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.


Layered paint and propaganda: Mellon seminar visits Cuba

Students in a Mellon collaborative studies seminar in architecture, urbanism and the humanities spent eight days in Cuba this semester to study the island's changing politics and environment.

Pest control: Wicked weeds may be agricultural angels

Farmers looking to reduce reliance on pesticides, herbicides and other pest management tools may want to heed the advice of Cornell agricultural scientists: Let nature be nature – to a degree.

Rawlings credits students for driving climate action

Interim President Hunter Rawlings gave students credit for propelling the university into action at the President’s Sustainable Campus Committee annual summit Nov. 10.

Soil scientist speaks on land degradation at COP22

In a presentation to global leaders battling climate change and feeding a burgeoning world population, Cornell's Dawit Solomon presented food security ideas to stave off the Earth's atmospheric warming.

Grant to aid study of microbes' role in soil carbon cycle

A project led by Cornell researchers to better understand soil microbes and their role in the carbon cycle has received a three-year, $3.59 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Functional textiles clean pollutants from air and water

A group of Cornell researchers has shown the ability to functionalize cotton fabric with a porous beta-cyclodextrin polymer, which can sequester organic micropollutants in both water and air.

Cornell eases water use restrictions but urges conservation

Cornell has lowered its water use restriction to a water use advisory, which means water conservation efforts are now strongly encouraged but not required.

Public health symposium to take place Nov. 4

The 2016 Cornell University One Health + Public Health + Global Health Symposium will take place Nov. 4, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Biotech G10 and the lobby.

Panel outlines action for campus carbon neutrality by 2035

With a plan to harness the wind, sun, water and the Earth’s heat, a panel from the Senior Leaders Climate Action Group explained to the Cornell community Oct. 31 how the campus could become carbon neutral by 2035.