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.


Roadmap points way to better soil health in New York

The Cornell-led New York Soil Health Initiative has just released its Soil Health Roadmap, which identifies ways farmers and land managers can adopt better soil health practices.

Research explains nature of key plant-fungus interfaces

Researchers at the Boyce Thompson Institute have discovered the mechanism behind the symbiotic relationship between plants and fungi, which could lead to reduced fertilizer use.

Living shorelines offer hope for state’s coastal communities

As climate change threatens coastal areas, experts from the New York Sea Grant program are involved in a project to protect the state’s shorelines and the people who live near them.

Mahowald to lead conference on atmospheric CO2 removal

Climate change expert Natalie Mahowald will deliver the keynote address on removing atmospheric carbon at the 2019 Polson Institute Future of Development symposium.

Atkinson Center postdoc fellows address global sustainability

The Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future is welcoming five new postdoctoral fellows, who will study global food systems, health and energy transitions.

Mahowald to Congress: Act now to arrest climate change

Cornell professor Natalie Mahowald offered straightforward and hopeful testimony on Earth’s warming atmosphere Feb. 13 in a three-hour hearing on climate change before the House Science, Space and Technology Committee.

A fresh look at China’s energy policy shows mixed results

Cornell researchers and their colleagues have created a new, comprehensive data set of China’s 2,656 energy-related policies operating in 30 provinces – and found they cancel each other out when it comes to energy consumption.

New grant program funds novel conservation collaborations

The Atkinson Center is partnering with The Nature Conservancy on three funded research projects, related to climate change, renewable energy and wildlife management. 

Active Learning Initiative funds nine projects

Innovative projects to enhance undergraduate teaching and learning in nine departments have received funding administered by Cornell’s Active Learning Initiative.