State of the Planet

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Photograph of a wildfire on a hillside burning at night with smoke and nearby houses.

Wildfires

Wildfires are a growing global threat, fueled by the complex interplay of climate change, human activity, and natural factors. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and shifting weather patterns linked to climate change are intensifying the frequency, severity, and unpredictability of wildfires. Wildfires can devastate ecosystems, displace communities, and release vast amounts of carbon dioxide, further exacerbating climate change. As scientists work to unravel the dynamics of wildfire behavior, challenges remain in predicting fire patterns, mitigating risks, and understanding their long-term impacts on biodiversity and human health. Bridging the gap between scientific understanding and practical solutions will be crucial in adapting to this escalating crisis and building resilience against its far-reaching consequences.


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Upcoming Events

  • Thursday, March 27, 2025 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM Where: Mudd Hall, 500 W. 120 St., New York, NY 10027 Description: Speaker: Anastasia Romanou NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies And Dept of Applied Phys. and Applied Math., Columbia University Title: Using Earth System Models to explore climate response to curbing emissions Abstract: Earth system models (ESMs) integrate the interactions of atmosphere, ocean, land and ice with the biosphere to […]
  • Wednesday, March 26, 2025 10:10 AM – 12:00 PM Where: Butler Library, 535 W. 114 St., New York, NY 10027 Description: Are you interested in incorporating climate justice into your teaching practice? Apply for Climate Wayfinding: Teaching for Climate Healing to experiment with new pedagogical practices to meet the needs of a changing world. Throughout the six meetings and modules, we will explore how to address the emotionality of the […]
  • Tuesday, March 25, 2025 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Where: Columbia Business School, David Geffen Hall, 645 West 130th Street, New York, NY 10027 Description: Join us for a live event and taping with Professor Ray Horton, founder of the Social Enterprise Program (today’s Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change), director Sandi Wright, and the groundbreaking social enterprise leaders featured in this season’s More MPE podcast series for a discussion on lessons from successful careers […]

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