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.


On the highway to health: trimming toxins with trees

Cornell engineering students are creating a state-of-the-art computer model to strategically place trees on highways near residential areas to mitigate pollution particles and improve human health.

Grants fund 22 Cornell teams, community partners

Twenty-two projects have received fall 2017 Engaged Opportunity Grants for projects and programs that advance community engagement at Cornell.

Collaborative theater course focuses on Finger Lakes climate change

Climate science, theater and civic engagement come together in a new Performing and Media Arts course that culminates in student-created multimedia performances Dec 1-4.

Students’ vegan jerky an international hit at Chinese food conference

Three Cornell students brought home honors from a global product development competition in China for their original vegan jerky snack.

Dec. 5 global soil painting competition illustrates soil’s vital role

Graduate student Kirsten Kurtz is on a mission to save soil and turn our attention to its natural beauty by using it as paint.

Cornell group explores future of indoor farming

Indoor farming entrepreneurs and experts came to Cornell in early November to learn how to create viable businesses for local vegetables and produce grown indoors.

Cornell, DEC launch new hemlock pest biocontrol lab

Cornell and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the creation of a new biological control lab on campus to protect the state’s ecologically important hemlock trees.

Ault urges changes to proposed N.Y. climate change mitigation bill

Toby Ault, assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, suggested strong carbon-tracking improvements be included in a proposed New York State Senate bill to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

Cornell students meet, learn from COP23 world leaders

For the first week of 2017’s Conference of the Parties in Bonn, Germany, Nov. 6-17, seven Cornell students met with business and government leaders from around the world.