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.


Atkinson's Academic Venture Fund awards $1.8M to 15 projects

The Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future's Academic Venture Fund awarded $1.8 million in 2017, with 15 grants to seed novel approaches to some of the world's greatest sustainability challenges.

Group's measuring tool probes solar-cell materials

A group led by chemistry professor John Marohn has developed a technique for measuring photocapacitance in an organic polymer solar cell, which could lead to producing better solar-cell compounds.

Cornell tests 'smart,' resilient underground infrastructure

The future looks "smart" for underground infrastructure after a first-of-its-kind experiment testing advanced sensors was conducted June 6 at the Cornell Geotechnical Lifelines Large-Scale Testing Facility.

Climate Change Garden offers a lens into the future

The university's Climate Change Demonstration Garden, located at the Cornell Botanic Gardens, illustrates how future temperature conditions may affect plants.

New consortium aims to reduce greenhouse energy use

The Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering consortium, announced June 5 and led by researchers at Cornell and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, will transform the way greenhouses operate to reduce electricity use for lighting by up to 70 percent.

Governor, labor unions announce climate jobs program

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today he will dramatically increase the state's efforts to combat climate change and position unions to lead the nation in transitioning to a clean-energy economy.

NYC workshop tackles how to build sustainable cities

On May 23, more than 60 people gathered at the College of Architecture, Art and Planning's studio space in New York City to consider how built environments can help meet climate change challenges.

Seeds and knowledge shared at 'Planting Moon' gathering

Cornell researchers and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) growers discussed indigenous knowledge and traditional agricultural practices at a symposium at Cornell Botanic Gardens.

Cornell Tech aims for net-zero efficiency at Bloomberg Center

Cornell Tech is planning for its Bloomberg Center academic building to reach net-zero and LEED Platinum status, with all of the energy needed to power the building generated on campus.