Energy, Environment & Sustainability

Cornell is a global leader in sustainability and climate change research, teaching and engagement. Our campuses are living laboratories for developing, testing and implementing solutions that address these most challenging issues.


Cornell ash trees aim to beat back borer insects

Cornell Botanic Gardens is collaborating with conservation partners to propagate trees resistant to emerald ash borers.   

Breakthrough could lead to plants that use water more efficiently

Cornell researchers have discovered a previously unknown way plants regulate water that is so fundamental it may change plant biology textbooks – and open the door to breeding more drought-tolerant crops.

Central America’s ‘Five Great Forests’ support North America’s migratory birds

A new study using data from the Lab of Ornithology finds that five forests in Mesoamerica are indispensable lifelines for dozens of migratory bird species.

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Brekland wins $1 million Grow-NY prize at Canandaigua summit

The Brooklyn-based startup building a biodegradable foam coating for crop protection, was awarded the $1 million grand prize in the 2025 Grow-NY Food and Agriculture business competition.

Cornell showcases a decade of impact through new community-engaged learning video series

The David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement has released a new video series highlighting a decade of progress and impact in community-engaged learning across the university.

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Celebrating the 50th Startup Cornell podcast at Eclectic Convergence

This episode features speakers and attendees recorded live during the Oct. 31 conference at Cornell Tech in New York City.

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Bone density builder wins top prize at food hackathon

The weekend event involved more than 150 undergraduate and graduate students from across Cornell.

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Eco-friendly ag practices may be easier than farmers think

Fruit and vegetable farmers across the U.S. said that labor was the biggest barrier to adopting sustainable practices, with many farmers perceiving the labor requirements to be higher than they are.

At COP30, floating plaza shifts perspective of sea-level rise

At United Nations climate meetings in Brazil, a floating pavilion whose designers include AAP's J. Meejin Yoon offers delegates a "surreal" eye-level view of the water.