State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Sustainability24

  • Getting the Tools to Get Hired

    Getting the Tools to Get Hired

    Alan Burchell is the founder and principal of Urbanstrong, which he started shortly after graduating from Columbia’s Master of Science in Sustainability Management program in 2014. When choosing courses, Alan encourages MSSM students to fill up their tool belts. In his experience, “Knowledge is great, but tools get you hired.” Alan recommends to take classes…

  • Building Regenerative Local Food Systems

    Building Regenerative Local Food Systems

    On April 27, 2017, the Earth Institute, the School of International and Public Affairs, the Agriculture and Food Security Center and the Columbia Water Center presented the third annual Forum on Sustainable Agriculture, on Building Regenerative Food Systems.

  • Trump’s Relevance on Climate Change

    Trump’s Relevance on Climate Change

    While Fortune 500 companies, our state and local governments, and foreign countries are all beginning the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the current U.S. federal government refuses to see the danger of climate change or the economic opportunities presented by modernizing our energy system.

  • In Jharkhand, Using an Old Technique for Sustainable Water

    In Jharkhand, Using an Old Technique for Sustainable Water

    The Indian state of Jharkhand has plentiful rainfall, but most of that water runs off before it can be put to use by farmers, who struggle to make a living. To help improve irrigation and crop productivity, the Centers for International Projects Trust and Ranchi’s Birsa Agricultural University turned to a simple traditional technology, “dobhas,”…

  • Sustainability Students Awarded SPS Student Leadership Honors

    Sustainability Students Awarded SPS Student Leadership Honors

    The Office of Student Affairs hosted SPS Student Leadership Banquet to award SPS Student Groups and Student Leaders to commemorate the advancement of the student life experience at SPS done by the efforts of over 50 students leaders. Awards were distributed to acknowledge the efforts of those that went above and beyond.

  • Why I Decided to Stand Up for Climate Science

    Why I Decided to Stand Up for Climate Science

    A young researcher explains why she is taking to advocacy for science.

  • Study: Overuse of Water Threatens Global Food Supply

    Study: Overuse of Water Threatens Global Food Supply

    In recent years, scientists have revealed that we are depleting our global groundwater reserves at an alarming rate. Now researchers have shown that a significant share of this unsustainable water use fuels the global food trade, which means water exhaustion in supplier nations could ripple outward, causing food crises half way across globe.

  • Questions about the M.S. in Sustainability Management Program: Ask Marivi

    Questions about the M.S. in Sustainability Management Program: Ask Marivi

    Mariví Perdomo Caba (SUMA ’15) is currently SUMA program manager and the chair of the board at Big Island Group. She splits her time with working with the M.S. in Sustainability Management program and sustainability start-up ventures. Given her unique perspective, she is the perfect person to answer the most common questions asked about the…

  • The Progress Toward Sustainability

    The Progress Toward Sustainability

    The effort to ensure that humans can continue to benefit from the miracle of this planet, and increase the distribution of those benefits to all of humanity is well underway. A positive vision of sustainability underlies much of the progress we have made thus far, and will be of increasing importance as the transition to…

Colorful icons representing nature, sustainable living, and renewable energy with text "Earth Day 2026"

The first Earth Day in 1970 ignited a movement to stop polluting our planet. Today, our scientists and experts are tackling the most pressing challenges to achieve real-world impact. This Earth Day, join us in our commitment to realizing a just and sustainable future for our planet. Visit our Earth Day website for ideas, resources, and inspiration.

  • Getting the Tools to Get Hired

    Getting the Tools to Get Hired

    Alan Burchell is the founder and principal of Urbanstrong, which he started shortly after graduating from Columbia’s Master of Science in Sustainability Management program in 2014. When choosing courses, Alan encourages MSSM students to fill up their tool belts. In his experience, “Knowledge is great, but tools get you hired.” Alan recommends to take classes…

  • Building Regenerative Local Food Systems

    Building Regenerative Local Food Systems

    On April 27, 2017, the Earth Institute, the School of International and Public Affairs, the Agriculture and Food Security Center and the Columbia Water Center presented the third annual Forum on Sustainable Agriculture, on Building Regenerative Food Systems.

  • Trump’s Relevance on Climate Change

    Trump’s Relevance on Climate Change

    While Fortune 500 companies, our state and local governments, and foreign countries are all beginning the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the current U.S. federal government refuses to see the danger of climate change or the economic opportunities presented by modernizing our energy system.

  • In Jharkhand, Using an Old Technique for Sustainable Water

    In Jharkhand, Using an Old Technique for Sustainable Water

    The Indian state of Jharkhand has plentiful rainfall, but most of that water runs off before it can be put to use by farmers, who struggle to make a living. To help improve irrigation and crop productivity, the Centers for International Projects Trust and Ranchi’s Birsa Agricultural University turned to a simple traditional technology, “dobhas,”…

  • Sustainability Students Awarded SPS Student Leadership Honors

    Sustainability Students Awarded SPS Student Leadership Honors

    The Office of Student Affairs hosted SPS Student Leadership Banquet to award SPS Student Groups and Student Leaders to commemorate the advancement of the student life experience at SPS done by the efforts of over 50 students leaders. Awards were distributed to acknowledge the efforts of those that went above and beyond.

  • Why I Decided to Stand Up for Climate Science

    Why I Decided to Stand Up for Climate Science

    A young researcher explains why she is taking to advocacy for science.

  • Study: Overuse of Water Threatens Global Food Supply

    Study: Overuse of Water Threatens Global Food Supply

    In recent years, scientists have revealed that we are depleting our global groundwater reserves at an alarming rate. Now researchers have shown that a significant share of this unsustainable water use fuels the global food trade, which means water exhaustion in supplier nations could ripple outward, causing food crises half way across globe.

  • Questions about the M.S. in Sustainability Management Program: Ask Marivi

    Questions about the M.S. in Sustainability Management Program: Ask Marivi

    Mariví Perdomo Caba (SUMA ’15) is currently SUMA program manager and the chair of the board at Big Island Group. She splits her time with working with the M.S. in Sustainability Management program and sustainability start-up ventures. Given her unique perspective, she is the perfect person to answer the most common questions asked about the…

  • The Progress Toward Sustainability

    The Progress Toward Sustainability

    The effort to ensure that humans can continue to benefit from the miracle of this planet, and increase the distribution of those benefits to all of humanity is well underway. A positive vision of sustainability underlies much of the progress we have made thus far, and will be of increasing importance as the transition to…