The Earth Institute An Overview of The Earth Institute at Columbia University Science and Solutions for Sustainable Development

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1 The Earth Institute An Overview of The Earth Institute at Columbia University Science and Solutions for Sustainable Development The Global Challenge Earth is at a critical crossroads. While revolutionary advances in science and technology have lifted humanity to new heights of prosperity and longevity in many parts of the world, hundreds of millions of people are vulnerable to the impacts of hazards and natural disasters, extreme poverty, infectious disease and a host of other challenges. At the same time, human activity, especially in the last 100 years, is threatening the health of the environment and potentially posing risks of unprecedented magnitude to our shared future. Today, approximately one in six people on the planet subsist on less than $1 a day. The world s population is expected to increase to 9 billion people by 2050, further straining Earth s resources and humanity s ability to thrive. With a window of opportunity to head off the most severe impacts of these challenges, The Earth Institute at Columbia University is working to help the world pave a path toward sustainability. Taking a Bold Approach The Earth Institute s overarching goal is to help achieve sustainable development primarily by expanding the world s understanding of Earth as one integrated system. We work toward this goal through scientific research, education and the practical application of research for solving real-world challenges. With 850 scientists, postdoctoral fellows and students working in and across more than 20 Columbia University research centers, The Earth Institute is helping to advance nine interconnected global issues: climate and society, water, energy, poverty, ecosystems, public health, food and nutrition, hazards and urbanization. With Columbia University as its foundation, The Earth Institute draws upon the scientific rigor, technological innovation and academic leadership for which the University is known. The Earth Institute encompasses centers of excellence with an established reputation for groundbreaking research, including the renowned Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, home to some of the world s leading scientists pursuing the study of Earth and its systems. The Earth Institute is implementing solutions to global challenges; pioneering research; advising national governments, the United Nations and other international agencies; and educating the next generation of leaders in sustainable development. While Earth is indeed at a critical crossroads, our work reflects the fundamental belief that the world has within its possession the tools needed to effectively mitigate climate change, poverty and other critical issues. Sustainable Development The Earth Institute is confronting the 21st century s most pressing problems by taking a bold and innovative approach to achieve sustainable development. This approach prioritizes the protection of Earth s ecosystems, oceans and atmosphere as well as the spread of social and economic opportunities for all people. To achieve sustainable development, The Earth Institute is conducting and applying interdisciplinary scientific research to address many cross-cutting issues. We believe that finding solutions to one problem, such as extreme poverty, must involve tackling other related challenges, such as environmental degradation and lack of access to health care and education. Anchored in this unique approach, The Earth Institute is leading the way in this promising and dynamic new field.

2 Partnerships for Progress While The Earth Institute is contributing substantially to global problem solving, people and organizations around the world have a fundamental role to play in successfully achieving sustainable development. Over the next decade, The Earth Institute will continue to build partnerships with academia, corporations, nonprofits and individuals as well as governmental, multilateral and private institutions to find effective and sustainable solutions for the world s challenges. By forging close ties with stakeholders in all aspects of its work, The Earth Institute is able to expand its reach and more effectively help the world achieve sustainability. While one organization cannot achieve sustainable development alone, The Earth Institute is committed to playing a major role to ensure a world of shared prosperity and environmental sustainability. Examples of Earth Institute Initiatives Reconstructing the Climate Past for Future Understanding Through sediment and ice cores, scientists gain a clearer snapshot of Earth s climate past, helping the world understand its future climate and potential impacts of climate change and variability on society. Hotspots Project By creating new models for assessing the global risks of disaster-related outcomes, risk-based disaster management and emergency response strategies can help mitigate mortality and economic losses. Global Roundtable on Climate Change Twice a year, business and civil leaders convene to determine how profits and the environment can work together to tackle the global climate and energy crisis. Millennium Villages The Millennium Villages project, based at The Earth Institute at Columbia University, is a science-based bottom-up approach to lifting developing country villages out of the poverty trap that afflicts more than a billion people worldwide. The Earth Institute at Columbia University is the world s leading academic center confronting the practical challenges of sustainable development. Based on interdisciplinary research and education, The Earth Institute is dedicated to finding effective solutions to humanity s most urgent challenges, including climate change, sustainable energy, environmental degradation, extreme poverty and natural and human-made hazards, among many others. Our core activities include advancing scientific research, educating and training the next generation of scientists and policy-makers and implementing practical solutions to create a more sustainable world.

3 Challenges & Solutions The Earth Institute at Columbia University Challenges & Solutions in Sustainable Development The Earth Institute at Columbia University is working to advance the science, technologies and policies needed to develop practical solutions for our planet s complex challenges. The hallmark of our approach is rooted in scientific research and innovation that can be applied practically to affect lives and livelihoods. From climate change to the energy crisis, the world s challenges affect not only the most vulnerable populations, but all of global society. The Earth Institute works across nine cross-cutting themes, tackling problems at their roots, and working with the private and public sectors to devise and implement sound strategies for real-world problem solving. The facts below offer a snapshot of The Earth Institute and how it is working to make the world more sustainable. HEALTH CHALLENGE 1 million people die from malaria every year, 90 percent of them in Africa. SOLUTIONS Increase use of best practices and develop new approaches and innovative financing strategies to significantly reduce malaria and neglected tropical diseases in Africa. Malaria Quick Impact Initiative CHALLENGE In Rwanda, about 4 percent of adults living in rural areas and as many as 13 percent in Kigali, the country s capital, are living with HIV/AIDS. SOLUTIONS Devise and deploy an innovative communications system to help Rwanda rapidly scale up enhanced HIV/AIDS clinical services, such as monitoring patients and facilitating treatment. Access Project POVERTY CHALLENGE Today 1 in 6 people over one billion around the world live in extreme poverty, defined as subsistence on less than $1 a day. SOLUTIONS Starting at the village level, implement scientifically tested interventions in health, education, nutrition and agriculture to help entire communities begin to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. Millennium Villages CHALLENGE 114 million children currently do not have access to basic education. SOLUTIONS In-school feeding programs in parts of rural Africa are helping to nourish children and increase class attendance. One such program is now providing meals to over 17,000 students. School Feeding Program, Millennium Villages WATER CHALLENGE 40 million people in Bangladesh are exposed to toxic levels of arsenic in drinking water. SOLUTIONS Engage an interdisciplinary team of experts, including engineers, hydrologists, public health specialists and others to help communities in Bangladesh have viable options for safe water and tackle health impacts. Earth Clinic Bangladesh Project CHALLENGE Dwindling water sources and prolonged periods of drought are increasing the likelihood of conflict among people who are dependent on abundant rain for their lives and livelihoods. SOLUTIONS Conduct research investigating the relationship between rainfall and high-level conflicts to advance the understanding of how such conflicts are formed and perhaps can be prevented. Center for International Earth Science Information Network ENERGY CHALLENGE The United States emitted 5.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2006 second to China which became the world s leader in carbon emissions for the first time. SOLUTIONS Conduct cutting-edge research to help devise technology that can effectively capture carbon dioxide from the air. Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy CHALLENGE About 1.5 million people die annually from illnesses related to prolonged exposure to indoor air pollution from open fires. SOLUTIONS Devise a cook stove that is fuel efficient, inexpensive and measurably less harmful for home use. Earth Institute Fellows Program; Millennium Villages

4 URBANIZATION CHALLENGE By 2030, more than 65 percent of the world s population will live in urban areas, increasing the stress on communities with little resources to cope with such impacts as climate change. SOLUTIONS Propose and plan practical solutions for quality-of-life problems and provide experts who can address questions related to environmental degradation, climate change and historical preservation. Urban Design Lab CHALLENGE Rapid urbanization in Nairobi, where nearly 50 percent of the population lives in poverty, is pushing people beyond the city s capacity in terms of space, infrastructure and employment. SOLUTIONS Work with universities, community-based groups and government at various levels to help facilitate a sustainable urban planning process, promoting the importance of planning better transportation alternatives and air pollution. Center for Sustainable and Urban Development HAZARDS CHALLENGE $225 billion in financial losses resulted from natural and human-made disasters in SOLUTIONS Work with multilateral organizations, corporations and research institutes to create policies that effectively prepare rather than respond to natural and human-made hazards. Center for Hazards and Risk Research CHALLENGE More than 6,600 deaths were attributable to earthquakes in Hundreds of thousands more were injured and suffered great economic losses. SOLUTIONS Expand the world s knowledge of earthquakes through new geological and tectonic research. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory FOOD & NUTRITION CHALLENGE 126 million children are underweight because of chronic hunger and disease. SOLUTIONS Teach improved farming methods to bolster crop production and introduce feeding programs in schools. Millennium Villages CHALLENGE About 180 million Africans do not have access to sufficient food; 70 percent of all Africans are dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods. SOLUTIONS Map the distribution of Earth s soil condition modifiers and soil types to help soil resource managers, soil scientists and policy-makers better understand and manage soil resources. Tropical Agriculture Program ECOSYSTEMS CHALLENGE Global warming is leading to Caribbean storms of greater strength that threaten the lives and livelihoods of the people who live there. SOLUTIONS Using Puerto Rican rainforests as a study system, highlight and promote forest management practices that provide greater resistance and resilience to storm damage. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation CHALLENGE Economic growth in China is leading to increasing numbers of sheep, cattle and goats in Inner Mongolia grasslands, where intense grazing pressure is leading to widespread degradation of this vast ecosystem. SOLUTIONS Work with scientists in China to develop grassland vegetation that can tolerate increased grazing and prevent ecosystem degradation. Center for Environmental Research and Conservation CLIMATE & SOCIETY CHALLENGE By 2050, 25 percent of crop yields may be lost due to changing rainfall patterns and declining water availability in some vulnerable regions. SOLUTIONS Work closely with farmers, water managers and other key stakeholders to anticipate and better adapt to climate variability in parts of South Asia, Latin America and Africa. International Research Institute for Climate and Society CHALLENGE If there is no significant reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions, current climate models predict an increase of C between 1990 and SOLUTIONS Mobilize leaders in the public and private sectors to pave a way forward for tackling climate change and find viable, innovative solutions to the global energy and greenhouse gas challenge. Global Roundtable on Climate Change The Earth Institute at Columbia University is the world s leading academic center confronting the practical challenges of sustainable development. Based on interdisciplinary research and education, The Earth Institute is dedicated to finding effective solutions to humanity s most urgent challenges, including climate change, sustainable energy, environmental degradation, extreme poverty and natural and human-made hazards, among many others. Our core activities include advancing scientific research, educating and training the next generation of scientists and policy-makers and implementing practical solutions to create a more sustainable world.

5 The Earth Institute at Columbia University is the world s leading academic center confronting the practical challenges of sustainable development. Based on interdisciplinary research and education, The Earth Institute is dedicated to finding effective solutions to humanity s most urgent challenges, including climate change, sustainable energy, environmental degradation, extreme poverty and natural and human-made hazards, among many others. Our core activities include advancing scientific research, educating and training the next generation of scientists and policy-makers and implementing practical solutions to create a more sustainable world.

6 FAQs The Earth Institute at Columbia University Frequently Asked Questions y What is The Earth Institute s mission? The Earth Institute at Columbia University confronts the practical challenges of sustainable development through interdisciplinary research, practice and education. The Earth Institute is dedicated to finding effective solutions for humanity s most urgent problems, including climate change, the energy crisis, extreme poverty, disasters, and ecosystem conservation, among others. Our core activities include advancing scientific research, educating and training the next generation of scientists and policy-makers and implementing practical solutions for a more sustainable world. While Earth is indeed at a critical crossroads, a fundamental belief underpins all of our efforts: that the world has within reach the know-how and resources needed to achieve sustainable development. What is sustainable development? The critical challenges facing the planet including human-induced climate change, water-related problems, and the degradation of the world s diverse ecosystems are deeply interconnected. Finding solutions to one problem should and must involve finding solutions to others. The interconnectedness of these challenges is captured in The Earth Institute s efforts to achieve sustainable development. Development is defined as spreading social, political and economic well-being to the entire global community, especially the poorest of the poor. Sustainable is defined as managing the world s economy in a manner consistent with the continued healthy functioning of Earth s ecosystems, oceans, atmosphere and climate. Sustainable development is not simply about preserving the environment; it is about effectively tackling interconnected challenges related to both human and environmental survival. It is this concept that forms the foundation of The Earth Institute s work. What is The Earth Institute s main goal, and how is it accomplished? The Earth Institute s overarching goal is to advance the understanding of Earth as one integrated system in order to achieve sustainable development. The Earth Institute was founded in the recognition that sustainable solutions require an interdisciplinary approach one that prioritizes cutting-edge research, the training of future leaders and active problem solving for real-world issues. Research Innovative scientific research anchors all initiatives at The Earth Institute and creates the knowledge base needed to address the challenges of sustainable development. More than 700 scientists, scholars, students, postdoctoral fellows and staff across more than 20 Columbia-based research centers are working to advance the fields of engineering, biology, earth science, health and social sciences. From understanding the dynamics of the Earth s crust to analyzing the economic and social impacts of natural and human-made hazards, research at The Earth Institute enables the creation of solutions that can help achieve sustainability. Education The Earth Institute works with schools and programs throughout Columbia University to develop rigorous and innovative curricula across multiple disciplines. Designed to educate individuals planning to work in the social and natural science disciplines that underpin sustainable development, The Earth Institute s academic programs are charting new and bold models for education. From undergraduate to postdoctoral education, there are more than 25 academic programs currently affiliated with The Earth Institute, including the undergraduate special concentration in sustainable development, the Ph.D. program in sustainable development, and the master s degree program in climate and society, among others. Continued on back

7 FAQs The Earth Institute at Columbia University Frequently Asked Questions Continued from front 0.05 Implementation and Practice Applying research knowledge to help communities achieve sustainable development is a significant part of The Earth Institute s work. Through the Earth Clinic and specific implementation projects, The Earth Institute is: helping people in Bangladesh find alternatives to arsenic-contaminated groundwater, working closely with corporations to find innovative ways to tackle climate change, assisting India s government on health and education policies, and working in Africa to tackle myriad dimensions of extreme poverty. Why was The Earth Institute established? In 1992, leaders at Columbia University gathered a core group of faculty to discuss the idea of a center dedicated to the study of the planet s natural systems and how these systems enable and at the same time are impacted by human activity. In 1996, they opened a bold new chapter in the University s history of excellence in scientific research with the founding of the Columbia Earth Institute, dedicated to tackling some of the world s most urgent challenges. To achieve its mission, The Earth Institute mobilized multiple academic departments and Columbia-based research centers, including the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which has made singular contributions to the world s understanding of Earth and its systems. With its foundation firmly rooted in the University, The Earth Institute would not only push the boundaries of interdisciplinary scientific research, but also provide innovations in how real-world solutions grounded in science can solve some of the world s toughest problems. In 2002, the renamed Earth Institute at Columbia University began a new phase in its development when Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger called for Columbia to become a truly global university. Under the directorship of international economist Jeffrey D. Sachs, The Earth Institute s activities were aligned along five core disciplines (engineering sciences, biological sciences, earth sciences, health sciences and social sciences) and nine cross-cutting issues that underlie its efforts today. How is The Earth Institute different from other organizations? While there are many organizations working to find and/or apply solutions to the world s problems, The Earth Institute stands out for its holistic and interdisciplinary approach grounded in scientific rigor, academic leadership and technological innovation. The hallmark of The Earth Institute is the integration of scientific research with public policy to achieve sustainable development. With its unique position in the University and in society, The Earth Institute mobilizes world-class scientific expertise and fosters interdisciplinary problem solving across nine crosscutting themes: Climate and Society Water Energy Poverty Ecosystems Public Health Food and Nutrition Hazards Urbanization Drawing upon the wealth of expertise and resources available at Columbia University, The Earth Institute s interdisciplinary approach creates a collaborative spirit that allows scientists to investigate questions that fall beyond traditional academic disciplines and to engage practically with both society and the physical world. It is this unique combination of interdisciplinary scientific rigor, dedication to academic and professional training, and real-world application of projects that sets The Earth Institute apart from others. How does The Earth Institute apply its research? The ultimate mission of The Earth Institute is to positively affect the lives of people, with an emphasis on the world s poor, and to build a path toward a sustainable future. The Earth Institute accomplishes these goals in a range of ways, particularly through its signature practice unit, the Earth Clinic, which allows scientific

8 research born at The Earth Institute to have meaningful, real-world applications in the field. Through such endeavors as the Earth Clinic, teams of experts are collaborating with local, national and international partners to help end poverty through sciencebased interventions in some of the poorest areas of Africa. In India, The Earth Institute is working to scale up public services in rural areas through partnerships with political and civil society leaders. And in North America, Earth Institute scientists are tackling a diverse range of problems by forecasting drought and predicting earthquakes. Across the continents and across the oceans, The Earth Institute is striving to make a measurable difference in people s lives. Who are The Earth Institute s partners? The scope and scale of The Earth Institute s mission require that it develop strategic partnerships across sectors and gain support from all levels of society. The Earth Institute works within the University community as well as beyond Columbia with a number of academic centers, governments, corporations, nongovernmental and international organizations and others to achieve sustainable development. By forging close ties with stakeholders in all aspects of its work, The Earth Institute is able to expand its reach and more effectively help the world achieve sustainability. I care about the issues how can I get involved? Learn more Learning and shoring up the facts is the first and most important step in achieving any goal. If there are particular issues that resonate with you, there may be more specific ways in which you can get involved. To learn more, please visit our Web site at: Attend The Earth Institute offers a wide range of events to inform the public on issues critical to sustainable development. To learn more and to sign-up for the weekly events go to: Enroll The Earth Institute is developing innovative educational opportunities that engage students at all levels of study. From undergraduate to postdoctoral, there are over 25 academic programs currently affiliated with The Earth Institute, representing one of the largest collections of environmental education programs in the world. These include: the undergraduate special concentration in sustainable development; the Ph.D. program in sustainable development; the master s program in climate and society; the master s program in environmental science and policy; and programs in the departments of ecology, evolution and environmental biology, earth and environmental sciences, and environmental engineering. To learn more, visit and click on Education. If you need additional information, please education@ei.columbia.edu. Donate Gifts and grants from individuals, corporations, foundations and organizations support The Earth Institute in its global effort to build a sustainable future. Funding questions and contributions may be directed to Terry Karamanos, director for funding initiatives, by at support@ei.columbia.edu or by mail: The Earth Institute at Columbia University 475 Riverside Drive, Mail Code 7720 New York, NY 10115