State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

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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  • Friday, February 21, 2025 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Where: Columbia Law School, 435 W. 116 St., New York, NY 10027 Description: Explore the FULL AGENDA to learn more about the panel topics and speakers.  FLYER PLEASE NOTE: This is an in-person event but will also be livestreamed. To attend in person please register by clicking the blue ‘RESERVE YOUR SEAT’ below. IDs will be checked against all registered names, to enter […]
  • Monday, February 17, 2025 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Where: Allan Rosenfield Building, 722 W. 168 St., New York, NY 10032 Description: Dr. Thoai Ngo, Chair of the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, will sit down with Dr. Brian Thiede, Associate Professor at The Pennsylvania State University for our first session of PopTalks.   Climate change is having widespread impacts […]
  • Thursday, February 6, 2025 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM Where: Online Event Description: Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 4:00-5:30pm Location: Zoom Series: Religion and Climate Elements Series Speakers: Sophie Chao (University of Sydney) and Nikita Simpson (SOAS University of London) Moderator: Raffaella Taylor-Seymour (Columbia University) IRCPL’s Religion and Climate series is animated by calls to reimagine human relationships with and responsibilities to the environment in an age of planetary […]

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