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
- Seismic Study Reveals Hidden Megathrust Earthquake Risk off British Columbia July 18, 2025A new study has revealed the first detailed images of a newly developing subduction zone off the coast of British Columbia.Francesco Fiondella
- A Chaotic Mars-Earth Planetary Cycle May Have Contributed to One of Earth’s Major Warming Events July 18, 2025New research shows that the Mars–Earth orbital cycle once had a 1.6-million-year cycle that coincided with major climate swings.Francesco Fiondella
- Need to Know: Geoengineering and Cloud Seeding July 17, 2025What are geoengineering and cloud seeding, and what are their implications for future climate mitigation strategies?Jeremy Hinsdale
- A Disaster Expert Explains Why the Texas Floods Were So Devastating July 15, 2025A warning system, which might involve integrating older technology like weather radios with new AI products and local knowledge, is key to preventing future loss of life.Adrienne Day
- Air Pollution Cuts in East Asia Likely Accelerated Global Warming July 14, 2025A new study finds that some forms of air pollution in the atmosphere have helped shade the Earth’s surface from the sun’s energy.Columbia Climate School