State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

sustainable development17

  • New Faculty: Nilda Mesa joins the Urban Design Lab

    New Faculty: Nilda Mesa joins the Urban Design Lab

    Nilda Mesa joins the Earth Institute to launch a new program in urban sustainability and equity planning at the Urban Design Lab.

  • A New Course: Environmental Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities

    A New Course: Environmental Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities

    Read about new MSSM Faculty member Carter Strickland, and how he will bring his expertise in sustainability and environmental policy to the classroom in fall 2016 with a new course: Environmental Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities.

  • Rules Would Require More Environmental Risk Disclosure in Mining

    Rules Would Require More Environmental Risk Disclosure in Mining

    The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed changes to its disclosure requirements for mining companies that could increase the liability potential of companies that fail to accurately disclose environmentally related risks to their investors.

  • Climate Change and the Complexity of Science

    Climate Change and the Complexity of Science

    The diplomatic debate about phasing out HFCs has been underway for seven years, but the technology of refrigerant coolants appears to have finally caught up with the need for replacement technology. Once replacement technology is available, diplomacy becomes possible.

  • Shareholder Litigation Puts a Spotlight on Environmental Risk

    Shareholder Litigation Puts a Spotlight on Environmental Risk

    Lawsuits based on corporate misrepresentations to investors are gaining attention from those who want to see companies held more accountable for environmental damage–including risks associated with climate change.

  • Dead Pool: the Depletion of a Shared Natural Resource

    Dead Pool: the Depletion of a Shared Natural Resource

    The Dead Sea could soon enough become a dead “pool” of sea. But perhaps there’s another alternative.

  • ESP Student Profile: Arina Larasati Susijo

    ESP Student Profile: Arina Larasati Susijo

    Arina Larasati Susijo has a passion for science, and was drawn to the MPA-ESP program to take advantage of learning the science behind the environmental policy issues facing her native Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region.

  • Preparing for Climate-Related Food Shocks

    Preparing for Climate-Related Food Shocks

    Researchers are investigating if the projected increase in climate change-generated droughts, floods, heat waves and other intense short-term occurrences will result in increased shocks that could jeopardize food security worldwide.

  • Global Philanthropy and Inequality

    Global Philanthropy and Inequality

    Recent trends now point towards global philanthropy becoming the new norm. Global philanthropy aims to reduce inequality in developing countries through many forms. But inequities persist, and different manifestations of global philanthropy will be challenged to increase impact and achieve a demonstrable shift in areas such as poverty, health, access to opportunity, and beyond.

Overhead view of Columbia campus with text Columbia Climate School Class Day 2026: Congratulations Graduates

Congratulations to our Columbia Climate School Class of 2026 and all of our 2026 Columbia University graduates! Learn more about our May 15 Climate School Class Day celebration. 💙 #Columbia2026 #ColumbiaClimate2026

  • New Faculty: Nilda Mesa joins the Urban Design Lab

    New Faculty: Nilda Mesa joins the Urban Design Lab

    Nilda Mesa joins the Earth Institute to launch a new program in urban sustainability and equity planning at the Urban Design Lab.

  • A New Course: Environmental Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities

    A New Course: Environmental Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities

    Read about new MSSM Faculty member Carter Strickland, and how he will bring his expertise in sustainability and environmental policy to the classroom in fall 2016 with a new course: Environmental Infrastructure for Sustainable Cities.

  • Rules Would Require More Environmental Risk Disclosure in Mining

    Rules Would Require More Environmental Risk Disclosure in Mining

    The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed changes to its disclosure requirements for mining companies that could increase the liability potential of companies that fail to accurately disclose environmentally related risks to their investors.

  • Climate Change and the Complexity of Science

    Climate Change and the Complexity of Science

    The diplomatic debate about phasing out HFCs has been underway for seven years, but the technology of refrigerant coolants appears to have finally caught up with the need for replacement technology. Once replacement technology is available, diplomacy becomes possible.

  • Shareholder Litigation Puts a Spotlight on Environmental Risk

    Shareholder Litigation Puts a Spotlight on Environmental Risk

    Lawsuits based on corporate misrepresentations to investors are gaining attention from those who want to see companies held more accountable for environmental damage–including risks associated with climate change.

  • Dead Pool: the Depletion of a Shared Natural Resource

    Dead Pool: the Depletion of a Shared Natural Resource

    The Dead Sea could soon enough become a dead “pool” of sea. But perhaps there’s another alternative.

  • ESP Student Profile: Arina Larasati Susijo

    ESP Student Profile: Arina Larasati Susijo

    Arina Larasati Susijo has a passion for science, and was drawn to the MPA-ESP program to take advantage of learning the science behind the environmental policy issues facing her native Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region.

  • Preparing for Climate-Related Food Shocks

    Preparing for Climate-Related Food Shocks

    Researchers are investigating if the projected increase in climate change-generated droughts, floods, heat waves and other intense short-term occurrences will result in increased shocks that could jeopardize food security worldwide.

  • Global Philanthropy and Inequality

    Global Philanthropy and Inequality

    Recent trends now point towards global philanthropy becoming the new norm. Global philanthropy aims to reduce inequality in developing countries through many forms. But inequities persist, and different manifestations of global philanthropy will be challenged to increase impact and achieve a demonstrable shift in areas such as poverty, health, access to opportunity, and beyond.