Urban Environment Lab
Today's Research on the Challenges of Sustainable Development
The current social context surrounding climate change is ushering in a new era of land use, planning, and development, one that reconsiders the role of natural disasters, natural resources, and environmental impacts on the communities in which we live. The Urban Environment Lab engages students, policy-makers, and research partners in collaborative projects and discussions on the determinants of hazard vulnerability, community resilience, sustainable development, and infrastructure adaptation at the intersection of the natural, social, and built environments.
State of the Planet
- Global Perspectives: Exploring Sustainable Development in Rwanda and Bangladesh April 23, 2025Columbia Climate School students in two classes partnered with global communities and gained hands-on experience in sustainability.Guest
- A New Interactive Tool Models Natural Hazards Fueled by Climate Change April 22, 2025Columbia Climate scientists launch the first long-term dataset to track and predict the occurrence of climate change–fueled extreme events.Marie DeNoia Aronsohn
- Five Innovative Renewable Energy Projects That Promise a More Sustainable Future April 22, 2025Take a virtual tour of some remarkable renewable energy projects from around the globe, each showcasing innovative technology, ambitious scale, and a commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.Jeremy Hinsdale
- Science for the Planet: Tackling the Invisible Threat of Nanoplastics April 22, 2025Beizhan Yan, an environmental geochemist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, has come up with new methods to detect and analyze tiny plastic particles to better understand their impact on human and environmental health.Francesco Fiondella
- Portraits of Glaciers: Art, Identity and the Self in Retreat April 18, 2025Artist Fran Beallor reflects on her series of drawings of glaciers, and how they explore humanity and our changing environment.Guest