State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Year: 20102

  • Antarctica’s Secrets

    Antarctica’s Secrets

    Understanding the historical context and dynamics of Antarctica’s massive ice sheets is critical for modeling future changes that have the potential to impact the globe, including significant contributions to sea level rise.

  • GE Agrees to Phase 2 of Hudson River Cleanup

    GE Agrees to Phase 2 of Hudson River Cleanup

    Today the General Electric Company (GE) notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it will conduct Phase 2 of the Hudson River cleanup operation and pay for it.

  • The Last Arctic Sea Ice Refuge

    The Last Arctic Sea Ice Refuge

    If climate change proceeds apace, summer sea ice in the Arctic is projected to nearly disappear by the end of this century. But a group of researchers predicts that ice will continue to collect in one small area, perhaps providing a last-ditch stand for ringed seals, polar bears and other creatures that cannot live without…

  • The Caribbean’s Growing Disaster Hotspots

    The Caribbean’s Growing Disaster Hotspots

    The 125 million people of the Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico region are highly exposed to hurricanes, floods and landslides–and it is not only because of bad weather. Increasing numbers of the poor are crowding into confined areas that are most prone to destruction–low-lying flood plains, too-steep hillsides, and the like. Robert Chen, director of the Center for International Earth…

  • Charcoal, Construction and Coffins: Tracing Links from Disasters to Deforestation in Haiti

    Charcoal, Construction and Coffins: Tracing Links from Disasters to Deforestation in Haiti

    Reliance on fuel wood in the Port-à-Piment watershed area of Haiti—a contributing factor to deforestation there—may be exacerbated by natural disasters.

  • A Global Fellows Program for Sustainable Development Undergraduates

    A Global Fellows Program for Sustainable Development Undergraduates

    The sustainability challenges faced by our planet require responses based on solid knowledge of the human/environment interface, proven technological mitigation and adaptation techniques and the means to translate this knowledge into action. It has never been more important to educate a new generation of thought leaders and practitioners with keen understanding of the links between…

  • Finding Sustainable Solutions As Water Crisis in India’s Food Bowl Grows

    Finding Sustainable Solutions As Water Crisis in India’s Food Bowl Grows

    The rapidly declining groundwater table in Punjab–one of the most agriculturally productive states and the heart of green revolution belt in northern India–is a disturbing trend.

  • Is New York City Ready for Drought?

    Is New York City Ready for Drought?

    All day long a flood of thousands scientists and students ebbs and flows across San Francisco’s 4th Street and Howard Avenue, coursing between the cavernous Moscone West and Moscone South convention buildings. The AGU is like a supercomputer of earth science, with human currents of data swapping information, heading from one talk to another, processing…

  • The Columbia Water Center’s New Projects Section

    The Columbia Water Center is pleased to announce the release of a greatly expanded and updated research projects section of its website. The new section includes an interactive map along with updated content on the Water Center’s projects around the world. Find out about our how we’re helping farmers save water with tensiometers in India,…

Science for the Planet: In these short video explainers, discover how scientists and scholars across the Columbia Climate School are working to understand the effects of climate change and help solve the crisis.
  • Antarctica’s Secrets

    Antarctica’s Secrets

    Understanding the historical context and dynamics of Antarctica’s massive ice sheets is critical for modeling future changes that have the potential to impact the globe, including significant contributions to sea level rise.

  • GE Agrees to Phase 2 of Hudson River Cleanup

    GE Agrees to Phase 2 of Hudson River Cleanup

    Today the General Electric Company (GE) notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it will conduct Phase 2 of the Hudson River cleanup operation and pay for it.

  • The Last Arctic Sea Ice Refuge

    The Last Arctic Sea Ice Refuge

    If climate change proceeds apace, summer sea ice in the Arctic is projected to nearly disappear by the end of this century. But a group of researchers predicts that ice will continue to collect in one small area, perhaps providing a last-ditch stand for ringed seals, polar bears and other creatures that cannot live without…

  • The Caribbean’s Growing Disaster Hotspots

    The Caribbean’s Growing Disaster Hotspots

    The 125 million people of the Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico region are highly exposed to hurricanes, floods and landslides–and it is not only because of bad weather. Increasing numbers of the poor are crowding into confined areas that are most prone to destruction–low-lying flood plains, too-steep hillsides, and the like. Robert Chen, director of the Center for International Earth…

  • Charcoal, Construction and Coffins: Tracing Links from Disasters to Deforestation in Haiti

    Charcoal, Construction and Coffins: Tracing Links from Disasters to Deforestation in Haiti

    Reliance on fuel wood in the Port-à-Piment watershed area of Haiti—a contributing factor to deforestation there—may be exacerbated by natural disasters.

  • A Global Fellows Program for Sustainable Development Undergraduates

    A Global Fellows Program for Sustainable Development Undergraduates

    The sustainability challenges faced by our planet require responses based on solid knowledge of the human/environment interface, proven technological mitigation and adaptation techniques and the means to translate this knowledge into action. It has never been more important to educate a new generation of thought leaders and practitioners with keen understanding of the links between…

  • Finding Sustainable Solutions As Water Crisis in India’s Food Bowl Grows

    Finding Sustainable Solutions As Water Crisis in India’s Food Bowl Grows

    The rapidly declining groundwater table in Punjab–one of the most agriculturally productive states and the heart of green revolution belt in northern India–is a disturbing trend.

  • Is New York City Ready for Drought?

    Is New York City Ready for Drought?

    All day long a flood of thousands scientists and students ebbs and flows across San Francisco’s 4th Street and Howard Avenue, coursing between the cavernous Moscone West and Moscone South convention buildings. The AGU is like a supercomputer of earth science, with human currents of data swapping information, heading from one talk to another, processing…

  • The Columbia Water Center’s New Projects Section

    The Columbia Water Center is pleased to announce the release of a greatly expanded and updated research projects section of its website. The new section includes an interactive map along with updated content on the Water Center’s projects around the world. Find out about our how we’re helping farmers save water with tensiometers in India,…