State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

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  • 2015 Indonesia Fires Killed 100,000 People, Says Study

    2015 Indonesia Fires Killed 100,000 People, Says Study

    In fall 2015, smoke from agricultural fires in Indonesia blanketed much of equatorial Asia. Schools and businesses closed, planes were grounded and tens of thousands of people sought treatment for respiratory illnesses. In a new study, researchers estimate that the smoke caused upward of 100,000 deaths across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

  • Extreme-Weather Winters Becoming More Common in U.S., Study Shows

    Extreme-Weather Winters Becoming More Common in U.S., Study Shows

    This past July was Earth’s hottest month since record keeping began, but warming isn’t the only danger climate change holds in store. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the simultaneous occurrence of extremely cold winter days in the Eastern United States and extremely warm winter days in the Western U.S., according to a…

  • How Safe is the Hudson? Scientists Test the River, Adirondacks to Ocean

    How Safe is the Hudson? Scientists Test the River, Adirondacks to Ocean

    A team of scientists conducted an unprecedented health check of the entire Hudson River system, from its source to New York Harbor. This is what they found.

  • Fall Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunities

    Fall Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunities

    The Earth Institute will offer eight research assistant opportunities for undergraduate students during the fall 2016 semester. Undergraduates from Columbia and Barnard will be able to serve as assistants on research projects related to sustainable development and the environment with distinguished faculty and researchers at the cutting edge of this burgeoning field.

  • Assessing Conflict in the Policy Process, Using Fracking as a Lens

    Assessing Conflict in the Policy Process, Using Fracking as a Lens

    Conflict is essential in the policy process, and understanding conflict better has the potential to assist policymakers and improve outcomes.

  • Watch: a Positive Vision of Sustainability

    Watch: a Positive Vision of Sustainability

    How do we transition to sustainability in a positive and effective way? In this video, Steven Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute, discusses a positive vision of sustainability—one that avoids the gloom and doom rhetoric so often seen in headlines—and focuses on the technology, ingenuity and innovation that can build a sustainable economy.

  • Facilitating Science and Innovation in China

    Facilitating Science and Innovation in China

    Last week, representatives from Columbia University traveled to Tianjin Binhai, China to finalize a partnership with the Government of the Tianjin Binhai New Area. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding as a first step in the development of a series of programs for research, education and executive training in the Tianjin Binhai New Area.

  • Apply to Work as an Intern in the Executive Director’s Office

    Apply to Work as an Intern in the Executive Director’s Office

    Are you an undergraduate or graduate student at Columbia or Barnard interested in sustainability and the environment? Are you looking for a paid internship for the fall? Apply by this Friday, August 28th, to intern in the Executive Director’s office.

  • Research Assistant Openings for Grad Students

    Research Assistant Openings for Grad Students

    The Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management at the Earth Institute is seeking several graduate-level research assistants for fall 2015, to assist with the program’s various research projects. Read more about the various openings for research in sustainability metrics, sustainable finance, sustainable tourism, and ecosystem services. Applications due August 14, 2015.

Banner for Climate Week NYC 2024

Columbia Climate School has once again been selected as university partner for Climate Week NYC, an annual convening of climate leaders to drive the transition, speed up progress and champion change. Join us for events and follow our coverage.

  • 2015 Indonesia Fires Killed 100,000 People, Says Study

    2015 Indonesia Fires Killed 100,000 People, Says Study

    In fall 2015, smoke from agricultural fires in Indonesia blanketed much of equatorial Asia. Schools and businesses closed, planes were grounded and tens of thousands of people sought treatment for respiratory illnesses. In a new study, researchers estimate that the smoke caused upward of 100,000 deaths across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

  • Extreme-Weather Winters Becoming More Common in U.S., Study Shows

    Extreme-Weather Winters Becoming More Common in U.S., Study Shows

    This past July was Earth’s hottest month since record keeping began, but warming isn’t the only danger climate change holds in store. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the simultaneous occurrence of extremely cold winter days in the Eastern United States and extremely warm winter days in the Western U.S., according to a…

  • How Safe is the Hudson? Scientists Test the River, Adirondacks to Ocean

    How Safe is the Hudson? Scientists Test the River, Adirondacks to Ocean

    A team of scientists conducted an unprecedented health check of the entire Hudson River system, from its source to New York Harbor. This is what they found.

  • Fall Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunities

    Fall Undergraduate Research Assistant Opportunities

    The Earth Institute will offer eight research assistant opportunities for undergraduate students during the fall 2016 semester. Undergraduates from Columbia and Barnard will be able to serve as assistants on research projects related to sustainable development and the environment with distinguished faculty and researchers at the cutting edge of this burgeoning field.

  • Assessing Conflict in the Policy Process, Using Fracking as a Lens

    Assessing Conflict in the Policy Process, Using Fracking as a Lens

    Conflict is essential in the policy process, and understanding conflict better has the potential to assist policymakers and improve outcomes.

  • Watch: a Positive Vision of Sustainability

    Watch: a Positive Vision of Sustainability

    How do we transition to sustainability in a positive and effective way? In this video, Steven Cohen, executive director of the Earth Institute, discusses a positive vision of sustainability—one that avoids the gloom and doom rhetoric so often seen in headlines—and focuses on the technology, ingenuity and innovation that can build a sustainable economy.

  • Facilitating Science and Innovation in China

    Facilitating Science and Innovation in China

    Last week, representatives from Columbia University traveled to Tianjin Binhai, China to finalize a partnership with the Government of the Tianjin Binhai New Area. Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding as a first step in the development of a series of programs for research, education and executive training in the Tianjin Binhai New Area.

  • Apply to Work as an Intern in the Executive Director’s Office

    Apply to Work as an Intern in the Executive Director’s Office

    Are you an undergraduate or graduate student at Columbia or Barnard interested in sustainability and the environment? Are you looking for a paid internship for the fall? Apply by this Friday, August 28th, to intern in the Executive Director’s office.

  • Research Assistant Openings for Grad Students

    Research Assistant Openings for Grad Students

    The Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management at the Earth Institute is seeking several graduate-level research assistants for fall 2015, to assist with the program’s various research projects. Read more about the various openings for research in sustainability metrics, sustainable finance, sustainable tourism, and ecosystem services. Applications due August 14, 2015.