State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Tag: Alternative Energy

  • To Build Climate Progress on Time Scales That Matter, Biden Should be Biden

    To Build Climate Progress on Time Scales That Matter, Biden Should be Biden

    The path forward requires negotiation, compromise, and open lines of communication with Republicans in Congress and elsewhere who have made climate change a focus.

  • Modernizing New York’s Energy System

    Modernizing New York’s Energy System

    Wind projects such as the ones that will soon be built in New York have an important role to play in changing our energy system.

  • How Much Do Renewables Actually Depend on Tax Breaks?

    How Much Do Renewables Actually Depend on Tax Breaks?

    The shift to renewable energy is key to combating climate change and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. But critics argue it won’t be possible without financial support from the government. How important are special tax breaks and other subsides, and do they really work?

  • Puerto Rico Faces a Long Road to a Sustainable Future

    Puerto Rico Faces a Long Road to a Sustainable Future

    Puerto Rico suffered an estimated $94 billion or more in damage, on top of an already sagging economy and $74 billion in debt. The island needs a total reboot. Can it do it sustainably?

  • What’s Next for Offshore Wind in the U.S.?

    What’s Next for Offshore Wind in the U.S.?

    A panel of experts discusses the challenges and opportunities that lie just off the coast.

  • How a Student Project Helped to Change JetBlue’s Course

    How a Student Project Helped to Change JetBlue’s Course

    What began as research at Columbia University became the catalyst for improving the sustainability of an airline, as JetBlue recently forged a 10-year deal to buy 330 million gallons of jet fuel made partially from plants.

  • Biofuels And Jet Travel

    Biofuels And Jet Travel

    Global communication and global travel have transformed economic life in our world and have been important tools in improving quality of life for many. They have transformed our world’s culture in ways that we do not yet fully understand. Let’s take the first small steps in building the technology and business models most appropriate to…

  • Court Ruling on Clean Power Plan a Setback, But…

    Court Ruling on Clean Power Plan a Setback, But…

    The Supreme Court’s decision Tuesday to postpone implementation of the Clean Power Plan represents a setback for efforts to combat climate change; but the damage to the U.S. ability to meet pledges it made at the Paris climate summit in December “is less than it might seem,” says Michael Gerrard.

  • What is the U.S. Commitment in Paris?

    What is the U.S. Commitment in Paris?

    The United States has joined 185 countries in promising to curb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, develop other ways to mitigate the impacts and to make communities more resilient to climate change. So what exactly is the United States proposing to do?

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.
  • To Build Climate Progress on Time Scales That Matter, Biden Should be Biden

    To Build Climate Progress on Time Scales That Matter, Biden Should be Biden

    The path forward requires negotiation, compromise, and open lines of communication with Republicans in Congress and elsewhere who have made climate change a focus.

  • Modernizing New York’s Energy System

    Modernizing New York’s Energy System

    Wind projects such as the ones that will soon be built in New York have an important role to play in changing our energy system.

  • How Much Do Renewables Actually Depend on Tax Breaks?

    How Much Do Renewables Actually Depend on Tax Breaks?

    The shift to renewable energy is key to combating climate change and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. But critics argue it won’t be possible without financial support from the government. How important are special tax breaks and other subsides, and do they really work?

  • Puerto Rico Faces a Long Road to a Sustainable Future

    Puerto Rico Faces a Long Road to a Sustainable Future

    Puerto Rico suffered an estimated $94 billion or more in damage, on top of an already sagging economy and $74 billion in debt. The island needs a total reboot. Can it do it sustainably?

  • What’s Next for Offshore Wind in the U.S.?

    What’s Next for Offshore Wind in the U.S.?

    A panel of experts discusses the challenges and opportunities that lie just off the coast.

  • How a Student Project Helped to Change JetBlue’s Course

    How a Student Project Helped to Change JetBlue’s Course

    What began as research at Columbia University became the catalyst for improving the sustainability of an airline, as JetBlue recently forged a 10-year deal to buy 330 million gallons of jet fuel made partially from plants.

  • Biofuels And Jet Travel

    Biofuels And Jet Travel

    Global communication and global travel have transformed economic life in our world and have been important tools in improving quality of life for many. They have transformed our world’s culture in ways that we do not yet fully understand. Let’s take the first small steps in building the technology and business models most appropriate to…

  • Court Ruling on Clean Power Plan a Setback, But…

    Court Ruling on Clean Power Plan a Setback, But…

    The Supreme Court’s decision Tuesday to postpone implementation of the Clean Power Plan represents a setback for efforts to combat climate change; but the damage to the U.S. ability to meet pledges it made at the Paris climate summit in December “is less than it might seem,” says Michael Gerrard.

  • What is the U.S. Commitment in Paris?

    What is the U.S. Commitment in Paris?

    The United States has joined 185 countries in promising to curb carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, develop other ways to mitigate the impacts and to make communities more resilient to climate change. So what exactly is the United States proposing to do?