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Too Little, Too Late: Study Examines Why the Endangered Species Act Fails
Most species are not receiving protection until their populations are precariously small, thus dimming their prospects of recovery.
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Short Film Captures the Story of a Just Energy Transition in Tonawanda, NY
Directed by a former Earth Institute postdoc, the documentary shows how residents pushed for justice and dignity when two major coal plants closed down.
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Here’s What We Know About How Climate Change Fuels Hurricanes
When Hurricane Ian hit Florida, it was one of the United States’ most powerful hurricanes on record, and it followed a two-week string of massive, devastating storms around the world.
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Preparing for Volcanic Eruptions at Okmok Volcano, Alaska
Researchers are working at a remote ranch in the Aleutians, commuting by helicopter to the brim of a volcano to perform maintenance on their monitoring equipment.
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Catching the Next Eruption of Axial Volcano
Diary entries from a research expedition that deployed seismometers on the ocean floor in hopes of recording the next eruption of a submarine volcano.
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The Energy Transition Needs to Be Climate-Proofed
Increasingly extreme weather has the potential to derail renewable energy projects — but there are a few things we can do to keep moving forward.
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How Is Climate Change Affecting Ocean Waters and Ecosystems?
Biological oceanographer Hugh Ducklow describes decades of work in far-flung places to understand the evolving ecology of the oceans. The picture is not always clear.
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17 Million-Year-Old Teeth Open Windows Into Early Ape and Human Evolution
A new study shows that natural variants of oxygen within ancient animal teeth recorded details of seasonal rainfall, environmental conditions and animal behavior.
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Is Air Pollution Fueling Stronger Thunderstorms? Project Aims to Find Out
In Houston, researchers are studying how air pollution particles affect the strength and lifecycle of storms in order to improve weather and climate forecasting.

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More
