State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

sustainable development26

  • Indian Government Takes Steps on Agriculture, Water, Climate

    Indian Government Takes Steps on Agriculture, Water, Climate

    In terms of the urgent need to reform agriculture, address climate change and promote sustainable watershed development, the Indian government’s new budget provides for a number of promising initiatives.

  • On the Road with Kate & Maddy: America Talks about Water

    On the Road with Kate & Maddy: America Talks about Water

    Both of us are interested in the intersection of the environment and public health, and we wanted to explore a public health issue about which we felt ignorant. Water kept coming up in our conversations, because we felt that while water is a global issue, it often gets overlooked domestically among our peers. As such,…

  • Study: Reforming the Port Authority and the MTA

    Study: Reforming the Port Authority and the MTA

    Earth Institute students took a hard look into financial and administrative problems plaguing the MTA and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and came up with suggestions for more sustainable financing and more efficient operations.

  • New Seminar Focuses on Links Between Environment, Conflict and Security

    New Seminar Focuses on Links Between Environment, Conflict and Security

    The Earth Institute is launching a new interdisciplinary seminar to help business and policy leaders better understand the connections between environmental stresses, natural resources and conflicts.

  • Beyond Coal: Economic Alternatives for Kentucky

    Beyond Coal: Economic Alternatives for Kentucky

    Earth Institute students evaluated Kentucky’s physical, economic and cultural resources to identify ways to move the economy toward a more sustainable future—and to make recommendations for how the state’s community and technical college system could help.

  • CIRSD Joins New Earth Institute SDSN Advisory Group

    To strengthen the collaboration between the Center of International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) and the Earth Institute at Columbia University (EI) and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Earth Institute and SDSN have established the Earth Institute-Sustainable Development Solutions Network Advisory Group on International Relations and designated the members as Senior EI…

  • EPA’s Upcoming Carbon Rules: A Primer

    EPA’s Upcoming Carbon Rules: A Primer

    On Monday, June 2, President Obama will announce proposed federal rules aimed at curbing carbon emissions from existing U.S. power plants–possibly a landmark in U.S. climate policy. It is uncertain how far the rule will go, and the announcement is being closely watched around the world.

  • Capstone Projects Address Real Sustainability Challenges

    Capstone Projects Address Real Sustainability Challenges

    Students from the Earth Institute’s Sustainability Management and Environmental Science and Policy master’s programs once again demonstrated the broad range of applications for interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development in their Spring 2014 team capstone projects. The projects provided analysis and recommendations to a range of clients on diverse, real-world sustainability challenges.

  • Students Explore Sustainability’s Role in Children’s Social Justice

    The Earth Institute was pleased to host Jessica O’Herron and Hillary Larman of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as part of the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development’s Speaker Series.

Collage of Turkiye beach scene and Columbia University Campus with text: UN Climate Change Conference COP31, Antalya, Turkiye, Nov 9-20, 2026

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

  • Indian Government Takes Steps on Agriculture, Water, Climate

    Indian Government Takes Steps on Agriculture, Water, Climate

    In terms of the urgent need to reform agriculture, address climate change and promote sustainable watershed development, the Indian government’s new budget provides for a number of promising initiatives.

  • On the Road with Kate & Maddy: America Talks about Water

    On the Road with Kate & Maddy: America Talks about Water

    Both of us are interested in the intersection of the environment and public health, and we wanted to explore a public health issue about which we felt ignorant. Water kept coming up in our conversations, because we felt that while water is a global issue, it often gets overlooked domestically among our peers. As such,…

  • Study: Reforming the Port Authority and the MTA

    Study: Reforming the Port Authority and the MTA

    Earth Institute students took a hard look into financial and administrative problems plaguing the MTA and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and came up with suggestions for more sustainable financing and more efficient operations.

  • New Seminar Focuses on Links Between Environment, Conflict and Security

    New Seminar Focuses on Links Between Environment, Conflict and Security

    The Earth Institute is launching a new interdisciplinary seminar to help business and policy leaders better understand the connections between environmental stresses, natural resources and conflicts.

  • Beyond Coal: Economic Alternatives for Kentucky

    Beyond Coal: Economic Alternatives for Kentucky

    Earth Institute students evaluated Kentucky’s physical, economic and cultural resources to identify ways to move the economy toward a more sustainable future—and to make recommendations for how the state’s community and technical college system could help.

  • CIRSD Joins New Earth Institute SDSN Advisory Group

    To strengthen the collaboration between the Center of International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) and the Earth Institute at Columbia University (EI) and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Earth Institute and SDSN have established the Earth Institute-Sustainable Development Solutions Network Advisory Group on International Relations and designated the members as Senior EI…

  • EPA’s Upcoming Carbon Rules: A Primer

    EPA’s Upcoming Carbon Rules: A Primer

    On Monday, June 2, President Obama will announce proposed federal rules aimed at curbing carbon emissions from existing U.S. power plants–possibly a landmark in U.S. climate policy. It is uncertain how far the rule will go, and the announcement is being closely watched around the world.

  • Capstone Projects Address Real Sustainability Challenges

    Capstone Projects Address Real Sustainability Challenges

    Students from the Earth Institute’s Sustainability Management and Environmental Science and Policy master’s programs once again demonstrated the broad range of applications for interdisciplinary approaches to sustainable development in their Spring 2014 team capstone projects. The projects provided analysis and recommendations to a range of clients on diverse, real-world sustainability challenges.

  • Students Explore Sustainability’s Role in Children’s Social Justice

    The Earth Institute was pleased to host Jessica O’Herron and Hillary Larman of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as part of the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development’s Speaker Series.