State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

renewable energy12

  • 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.

  • Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy

    Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy

    The companies that develop cheaper and more reliable renewable energy and energy storage technologies will drive fossil fuel companies from the marketplace. Since Trump’s team won’t help, let’s convince them to end their attack on renewable energy and stay out of the way of the change that is on the way.

  • We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact on the Climate Agreement

    We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact on the Climate Agreement

    While we still do not know the long-term impact of President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, the short-term impact has been to mobilize a broad segment of the U.S. and global public in support of the agreement.

  • The Paris Climate Agreement: What Trump’s Decision to Leave Means

    The Paris Climate Agreement: What Trump’s Decision to Leave Means

    In the wake of the decision by the Trump administration to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, several questions have emerged about what withdrawal means for environmental policy, research and innovation.

  • Microgrids: Taking Steps Toward the 21st Century Smart Grid

    Microgrids: Taking Steps Toward the 21st Century Smart Grid

    Microgrids, networks of linked energy sources that are connected to the main grid, but are able to operate independently if power is lost, are the building blocks of the 21st century smart grid. Why aren’t there more of them?

  • Talking Sustainability Management: Insights from the Front Lines

    Talking Sustainability Management: Insights from the Front Lines

    On March 29, the Earth Institute and the M.S. in Sustainability Management program will host the event “Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management.” The four panelists discuss their work and offer advice for students entering the field.

  • Will China Take the Green Mantle From the U.S.?

    Will China Take the Green Mantle From the U.S.?

    While President Trump has promised to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord, China’s President Xi Jinxing has vowed to continue to tackle climate change and honor his country’s obligations. Will China become the global leader in combating climate change?

  • 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.

  • Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy

    Trump’s Attack on Renewable Energy

    The companies that develop cheaper and more reliable renewable energy and energy storage technologies will drive fossil fuel companies from the marketplace. Since Trump’s team won’t help, let’s convince them to end their attack on renewable energy and stay out of the way of the change that is on the way.

  • We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact on the Climate Agreement

    We’ll Always Have Paris: Trump’s Impact on the Climate Agreement

    While we still do not know the long-term impact of President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, the short-term impact has been to mobilize a broad segment of the U.S. and global public in support of the agreement.

  • The Paris Climate Agreement: What Trump’s Decision to Leave Means

    The Paris Climate Agreement: What Trump’s Decision to Leave Means

    In the wake of the decision by the Trump administration to withdraw from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, several questions have emerged about what withdrawal means for environmental policy, research and innovation.

  • Microgrids: Taking Steps Toward the 21st Century Smart Grid

    Microgrids: Taking Steps Toward the 21st Century Smart Grid

    Microgrids, networks of linked energy sources that are connected to the main grid, but are able to operate independently if power is lost, are the building blocks of the 21st century smart grid. Why aren’t there more of them?

  • Talking Sustainability Management: Insights from the Front Lines

    Talking Sustainability Management: Insights from the Front Lines

    On March 29, the Earth Institute and the M.S. in Sustainability Management program will host the event “Transforming Organizations with Sustainability Management.” The four panelists discuss their work and offer advice for students entering the field.

  • Will China Take the Green Mantle From the U.S.?

    Will China Take the Green Mantle From the U.S.?

    While President Trump has promised to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord, China’s President Xi Jinxing has vowed to continue to tackle climate change and honor his country’s obligations. Will China become the global leader in combating climate change?