http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu Tapping experts in climate, geology, oceanography, ecology, sustainable development, global health, energy, food and water, State of the Planet captures stories of how the Earth works and how we can sustainably make our lives better. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:23:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/06/17/strange-bedfellows-in-the-climate-change-saga-the-quest-for-the-arctic-wolf/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/06/17/strange-bedfellows-in-the-climate-change-saga-the-quest-for-the-arctic-wolf/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:30:16 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=37381 When you travel northbound on Alaska’s famous Dalton Highway heading toward the Arctic Sea, the northern edge of the world, you carry a radio to communicate with the enormous rigs that roar along the road, the giant trucks made famous by the History Channel’s Ice Road Truckers. Radio messages between truckers and non-truckers are simple and polite. They let each other know when it’s safe to pass, if a wide load is coming your way, or if the conditions ahead are dangerous or treacherous – snow drifts, slush flows, avalanches, washouts and the like.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/06/17/strange-bedfellows-in-the-climate-change-saga-the-quest-for-the-arctic-wolf/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/06/11/maintaining-large-scale-biodiversity-is-critical-for-ecosystem-health/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/06/11/maintaining-large-scale-biodiversity-is-critical-for-ecosystem-health/#comments Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:16:54 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=37243 It is well known that biological diversity underpins the functioning of ecosystems and the services that they provide. However, in a new study, researchers at the University of California-Santa Cruz demonstrate that higher levels of biodiversity are required in order to maintain multiple ecosystem functions simultaneously, over time.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/06/11/maintaining-large-scale-biodiversity-is-critical-for-ecosystem-health/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/05/13/iucn-red-list-for-ecosystems-steps-up-biodiversity-conservation/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/05/13/iucn-red-list-for-ecosystems-steps-up-biodiversity-conservation/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 18:14:44 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=36486 This week in PLoS One, a group of researchers coordinated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), published a new framework for assessing threats to ecosystems. This study offers the theoretical foundation for the Red List criteria for ecosystems, which like its predecessor, the Species Red List, will aim to inform government and society about the current status of biodiversity and provide the data necessary to develop strategies and priorities for conservation.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/05/13/iucn-red-list-for-ecosystems-steps-up-biodiversity-conservation/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/04/15/certificate-student-builds-green-roofs/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/04/15/certificate-student-builds-green-roofs/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:41:26 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=35488 Eric Dalski, a student in the Earth Institute Executive Education Certificate Program in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability is building vegetative layers grown on a rooftop. Learn more about his perspectives on the Certificate Program.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2013/04/15/certificate-student-builds-green-roofs/feed/ 1 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/10/01/biotherapy/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/10/01/biotherapy/#comments Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:14:43 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=30801 Coastal Wetlands provide homes for migrating and native birds, protected areas for hatcheries, flood mitigation and an unrivaled biodiversity of microorganisims that serves as the basis of the marine food chain. Nature here works hard to compensate for an increasingly heavy human footprint.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/10/01/biotherapy/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/25/cerc-certificate-alum-pursues-his-passion-for-protecting-oceans/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/25/cerc-certificate-alum-pursues-his-passion-for-protecting-oceans/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:40:33 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=30581 Learn more about Mike Misner, a 2006 graduate of the Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability at the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC). ]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/25/cerc-certificate-alum-pursues-his-passion-for-protecting-oceans/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/12/natures-toxic-crusaders/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/12/natures-toxic-crusaders/#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:19:34 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=30105 Can mushrooms help clean up oil spills? Can oysters filter sewage pollution? Industrial waste is being injected into the planet's soil and water as a result of human activity. Pioneers in the field of conservation and sustainability are employing nature's own biological task force to help clean up.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/12/natures-toxic-crusaders/feed/ 1 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/10/how-a-pigeon-saved-the-buffalo/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/10/how-a-pigeon-saved-the-buffalo/#comments Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:46:23 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=29952 Scientists are close to restoring the extinct passenger pigeon and along with it her native habitat. ]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/09/10/how-a-pigeon-saved-the-buffalo/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/07/31/green-certified-restaurants/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/07/31/green-certified-restaurants/#comments Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:59:16 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=28983 According to the 2012 Zagat dining survey, New Yorkers eat out an average of three times a week. Since people in the city eat out so often, they may be able to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting more green certified restaurants.]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/07/31/green-certified-restaurants/feed/ 0 http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/07/20/is-green-travel-possible/ http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/07/20/is-green-travel-possible/#comments Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:39:53 +0000 EICES Guest Blogger http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/?p=28801 Imagine if each of the 4.3 million daily commuters on the New York City subway took an international flight. Now think of each of those people on flights spewing jet fuel emissions, guzzling canned soda from plastic airline cups and water from plastic bottles, tossing hotel toiletries into non-recycling bins, blasting hotel air conditioners, and so forth. Despite this apparent mess, is responsible travel possible? ]]> http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/07/20/is-green-travel-possible/feed/ 4