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
- Tree Rings Reveal Hurricane Impacts and Emerging Sea-Level Stress in Coastal Forests April 17, 2026New research suggests that trees largely recover from storms within two years, and that coastal trees may be stressed from sea-level rise.Francesco Fiondella
- U.N. Office’s Recovery Plan Advances Flood Relief Efforts in Pakistan April 16, 2026After a July 2025 glacier lake outburst flood in Hassanabad, the U.N. coordinated a relief and early recovery plan that is supporting reconstruction and humanitarian assistance.Guest
- The Environmental Cost of War April 15, 2026Daryush Nourbaha, an M.S. in Sustainability Science alum, reflects on the heavy toll of global conflict.Guest
- Where Conservation Meets Community: Lessons From South Africa April 14, 2026Columbia Climate School students tackled real-world conservation challenges in one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.Columbia Climate School
- The Energy Vampires Haunting Your Home April 13, 2026Here are some of the devices and appliances that might be secretly costing you money and energy, and how to save on both.Guest