Climate Change

Climate change is a change in the distribution of weather over periods of times that range from decades to millions of years. It can be a change in the average weather or a change in the distribution of weather events around an average. Climate change may be limited to a specific region or may occur globally.

Without action to reduce these emissions, the global average temperature is likely to rise by a further 1.8-4.0°C this century, and by up to 6.4°C maximum. Even the lower end of this range would take the temperature increase since pre-industrial times above 2°C which many scientists believe that it is irreversible.
Climate research at the Earth Institute spans multiple disciplines. While climate scientists study the effects of increased temperatures and atmospheric carbon dioxide on the world’s oceans and weather patterns, engineers are seeking ways to produce cleaner energy and provide steady supplies of fresh water. Social scientists, policy experts and lawyers are studying human behavior in the face of change as a way to improve how we make decisions, and the policy and legal tools we can use to implement measures that address the climate challenge. The Columbia Climate Center integrates research from throughout the University and across disciplines to translate the best climate knowledge into practical solutions.