State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

sustainable development27

  • Global Online Course Taught by Jeffrey Sachs to Focus on ‘The Age of Sustainable Development’

    Free 14-Week Class Will Begin on Jan. 21

  • New Predictions of Climate Change’s Impact on Agriculture

    New Predictions of Climate Change’s Impact on Agriculture

    Developing countries are more likely to see a drop in agricultural productivity and increased food prices due to climate change, particularly in tropical regions, according to a set of new studies out this week.

  • Training for Best Sustainable Practices in Extractive Industries

    Training for Best Sustainable Practices in Extractive Industries

    Large investments in extractive industries such as oil, gas and mining have the potential to be a springboard for development, but these investments often have been a source of corruption, social degradation, resource dependency and environmental catastrophe. How can resource-rich countries faced with this double-edged sword make informed decisions about how to effectively leverage these…

  • Kick Off the Holiday: It’s Giving Tuesday

    Kick Off the Holiday: It’s Giving Tuesday

    On Dec. 3, kick off the holiday giving season by supporting the Earth Institute on the second annual #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday is an initiative of the UN Foundation and the 92nd Street Y that follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday and unites the global giving community in a day of giving back.

  • Is Sustainability Sustainable in a Post-Bloomberg NYC?

    Is Sustainability Sustainable in a Post-Bloomberg NYC?

    With the end of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s tenure drawing near, many are speculating which of his policies will survive the next administration. New York City’s comprehensive environmental plan, PlaNYC 2030: A Greener, Greater New York, has been championed politically by Bloomberg, but is grounded in science and data, and performance management. It has demonstrated progress,…

  • Myanmar: a New Frontier for Sustainable Development

    Myanmar: a New Frontier for Sustainable Development

    The Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development is building a sustainable development program to provide policy support for the government of Myanmar, local NGOs and the donor community, accelerating growth that is both socially inclusive, sustainable and mindful of climate risks and opportunities. This video explains the project.

  • Lessons From Front Lines of Climate Change

    Lessons From Front Lines of Climate Change

    Cities already lead the action on responding to climate change. And cities are utilizing groups such as the Urban Climate Change Research Network to share lessons from implementation and scholarly research on urban climate change.

  • What Comes After 2015? The Next Set of Goals

    What Comes After 2015? The Next Set of Goals

    “The gains in fighting poverty, and indeed generations of economic gains, are at serious threat of reversal unless deep structural crises of rising social inequality and rapid environmental degradation are finally addressed.”

  • A Fellow’s Story: Crossing Oceans, Breaking Boundaries

    A Fellow’s Story: Crossing Oceans, Breaking Boundaries

    After working in tropical forests and coastal areas throughout college and graduate school, Manhattan did not seem like a natural place to migrate after completing my PhD. But pursuing an Earth Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship was was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Composite banner with modern building at night and portrait of Dean Alexis Abramson that reads "Science for the Planet"

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings

  • Global Online Course Taught by Jeffrey Sachs to Focus on ‘The Age of Sustainable Development’

    Free 14-Week Class Will Begin on Jan. 21

  • New Predictions of Climate Change’s Impact on Agriculture

    New Predictions of Climate Change’s Impact on Agriculture

    Developing countries are more likely to see a drop in agricultural productivity and increased food prices due to climate change, particularly in tropical regions, according to a set of new studies out this week.

  • Training for Best Sustainable Practices in Extractive Industries

    Training for Best Sustainable Practices in Extractive Industries

    Large investments in extractive industries such as oil, gas and mining have the potential to be a springboard for development, but these investments often have been a source of corruption, social degradation, resource dependency and environmental catastrophe. How can resource-rich countries faced with this double-edged sword make informed decisions about how to effectively leverage these…

  • Kick Off the Holiday: It’s Giving Tuesday

    Kick Off the Holiday: It’s Giving Tuesday

    On Dec. 3, kick off the holiday giving season by supporting the Earth Institute on the second annual #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday is an initiative of the UN Foundation and the 92nd Street Y that follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday and unites the global giving community in a day of giving back.

  • Is Sustainability Sustainable in a Post-Bloomberg NYC?

    Is Sustainability Sustainable in a Post-Bloomberg NYC?

    With the end of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s tenure drawing near, many are speculating which of his policies will survive the next administration. New York City’s comprehensive environmental plan, PlaNYC 2030: A Greener, Greater New York, has been championed politically by Bloomberg, but is grounded in science and data, and performance management. It has demonstrated progress,…

  • Myanmar: a New Frontier for Sustainable Development

    Myanmar: a New Frontier for Sustainable Development

    The Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development is building a sustainable development program to provide policy support for the government of Myanmar, local NGOs and the donor community, accelerating growth that is both socially inclusive, sustainable and mindful of climate risks and opportunities. This video explains the project.

  • Lessons From Front Lines of Climate Change

    Lessons From Front Lines of Climate Change

    Cities already lead the action on responding to climate change. And cities are utilizing groups such as the Urban Climate Change Research Network to share lessons from implementation and scholarly research on urban climate change.

  • What Comes After 2015? The Next Set of Goals

    What Comes After 2015? The Next Set of Goals

    “The gains in fighting poverty, and indeed generations of economic gains, are at serious threat of reversal unless deep structural crises of rising social inequality and rapid environmental degradation are finally addressed.”

  • A Fellow’s Story: Crossing Oceans, Breaking Boundaries

    A Fellow’s Story: Crossing Oceans, Breaking Boundaries

    After working in tropical forests and coastal areas throughout college and graduate school, Manhattan did not seem like a natural place to migrate after completing my PhD. But pursuing an Earth Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship was was one of the best decisions I have ever made.