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.


Congestion pricing improved air quality in NYC and suburbs

Cornell researchers tallied the environmental benefits of New York City’s congestion pricing program and found air pollution dropped by 22% in Manhattan, with additional declines across the city’s five boroughs and surrounding suburbs.

Groundwork: cultivation rooted in art and action

At the intersection of art, ecology, and community, students enrolled in a course led by Associate Professor Jen de los Reyes explore research and practice that moves beyond the studio and into Ithaca's local ecologies.

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New research initiative to advance finance and insurance solutions that promote U.S. farmer resilience

The new initiative will support finance and insurance innovations that provide producers and agribusinesses with science-based strategies that strengthen soil health, improve water use efficiency, and build farmer resiliency to extreme weather events.  

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A cleaner, less toxic way of making a staple chemical

Hydrogen peroxide plays a key role in paper bleaching, wastewater treatment and electronics manufacturing, and it can be made in an entirely new way.

Ancient dirty dishes reveal decades of questionable findings

An interdisciplinary team of researchers determined that organic residues of plant oils are poorly preserved in calcareous soils from the Mediterranean, leading decades of archaeologists to likely misidentify olive oil in ceramic artifacts.

Grants to support research at nexus of AI, climate science

New grant funding will support eight research projects seeking to reduce AI’s energy use and integrate AI in environmental research. 

A tale of two ponds sheds light on high emissions

The slight differences in depth and light in Mud Pond and Texas Hollow Pond led to surprising differences in carbon dioxide and methane emissions.

Mobile battery system to provide campus with clean power

A sustainable alternative to diesel generators will now power Cornell's signature outdoor events and provide backup in emergencies.

University leaders, alumni meet at annual forum in Shanghai

Cornell leaders traveled across China and Asia in early November to connect with alumni, deepen partnerships, celebrate academic milestones, and engage in discussions on a wide range of global challenges. The multistop trip included the sixth annual Cornell-China Forum in Shanghai.

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