State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

renewable energy12

  • How the U.S. Might Fulfill Its Paris Pledge Without the White House

    How the U.S. Might Fulfill Its Paris Pledge Without the White House

    States, cities, and businesses are trying to pick up the federal government’s slack to fight climate change. How big of a difference can they make?

  • Forging Partnerships for Resilient, Low-Carbon Electricity Systems

    Forging Partnerships for Resilient, Low-Carbon Electricity Systems

    As cities begin to rebuild infrastructure ravaged by hurricanes, now is the time to adopt climate-resilient energy systems. Innovative collaborations between public and private stakeholders can help.

  • Trump Cannot Stop the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

    Trump Cannot Stop the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

    Trump cannot stop the attention most of us are paying to environmental sustainability, and I remain confident that the transition to a renewable resource-based economy has begun.

  • What the U.S. Military is Doing About Climate Change

    What the U.S. Military is Doing About Climate Change

    The White House may deny that climate change is happening, but the Department of Defense has been taking action for years to avoid and adapt to climate-related disasters.

  • 6 Climate Change Solutions We Can All Agree On

    6 Climate Change Solutions We Can All Agree On

    These ideas hold merit no matter where you fall on the political spectrum

  • Why Climate Change Matters

    Why Climate Change Matters

    Climate change is a test of our ability to identify, understand and act on critical global environmental issues. It tests our ability to work across national borders and across academic and professional fields of knowledge.

  • Tesla’s Model 3 and the Transition to Sustainability

    Tesla’s Model 3 and the Transition to Sustainability

    In the United States we need to build more and better mass transit options, but due to our land use development pattern in most of the country, personal transportation will always be part of our mix. The growth of the electric vehicle market provides an example of how the transition to a renewable resource based…

  • Staying Hopeful in A Troubling Time

    Staying Hopeful in A Troubling Time

    The recent birth of my first grandchild reinforces my desire to believe that the world that she will inherit will be at least as good as my world, if not better. I am trusting her future to the sustainability leaders and professionals that have emerged during the first part of the 21st century.

  • Why Renewable Energy Will Replace Fossil Fuels

    Why Renewable Energy Will Replace Fossil Fuels

    Renewable energy will displace fossil fuels when (not if) it becomes as reliable, cheaper, and more convenient. The polls indicate that the latent market for renewables in already in place, with young Americans strongly supporting a transition away from fossil fuels.

Composite banner with modern building at night and portrait of Dean Alexis Abramson that reads "Science for the Planet"

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings

  • How the U.S. Might Fulfill Its Paris Pledge Without the White House

    How the U.S. Might Fulfill Its Paris Pledge Without the White House

    States, cities, and businesses are trying to pick up the federal government’s slack to fight climate change. How big of a difference can they make?

  • Forging Partnerships for Resilient, Low-Carbon Electricity Systems

    Forging Partnerships for Resilient, Low-Carbon Electricity Systems

    As cities begin to rebuild infrastructure ravaged by hurricanes, now is the time to adopt climate-resilient energy systems. Innovative collaborations between public and private stakeholders can help.

  • Trump Cannot Stop the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

    Trump Cannot Stop the Transition to Environmental Sustainability

    Trump cannot stop the attention most of us are paying to environmental sustainability, and I remain confident that the transition to a renewable resource-based economy has begun.

  • What the U.S. Military is Doing About Climate Change

    What the U.S. Military is Doing About Climate Change

    The White House may deny that climate change is happening, but the Department of Defense has been taking action for years to avoid and adapt to climate-related disasters.

  • 6 Climate Change Solutions We Can All Agree On

    6 Climate Change Solutions We Can All Agree On

    These ideas hold merit no matter where you fall on the political spectrum

  • Why Climate Change Matters

    Why Climate Change Matters

    Climate change is a test of our ability to identify, understand and act on critical global environmental issues. It tests our ability to work across national borders and across academic and professional fields of knowledge.

  • Tesla’s Model 3 and the Transition to Sustainability

    Tesla’s Model 3 and the Transition to Sustainability

    In the United States we need to build more and better mass transit options, but due to our land use development pattern in most of the country, personal transportation will always be part of our mix. The growth of the electric vehicle market provides an example of how the transition to a renewable resource based…

  • Staying Hopeful in A Troubling Time

    Staying Hopeful in A Troubling Time

    The recent birth of my first grandchild reinforces my desire to believe that the world that she will inherit will be at least as good as my world, if not better. I am trusting her future to the sustainability leaders and professionals that have emerged during the first part of the 21st century.

  • Why Renewable Energy Will Replace Fossil Fuels

    Why Renewable Energy Will Replace Fossil Fuels

    Renewable energy will displace fossil fuels when (not if) it becomes as reliable, cheaper, and more convenient. The polls indicate that the latent market for renewables in already in place, with young Americans strongly supporting a transition away from fossil fuels.