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.


Cornell research designs maple sugarbush agroforestry system

The Cornell Maple Program is growing 18 species of perennial fruit- and nut-bearing plants within a maple sugarbush forest. They want to help maple producers be more resilient to economic challenges and extreme weather events, and offer unique products like maple-elderberry wine and maple-hazelnut spreads.

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Cornell partners with industry to better assess drought risk

The project aligns with Cornell Atkinson's core mission of supporting research that drives meaningful impact across public opinion, policy, and corporate practices.

Sunlight and seawater lead to low-cost green hydrogen, clean water

Researchers developed a low-cost method to produce carbon-free “green” hydrogen via solar-powered electrolysis of seawater, with a helpful byproduct: potable water.

Tree rings track atmospheric mercury cheaply

Wild fig tree rings offer a cheap method for tracking toxic atmospheric mercury, a byproduct of gold mining in the Global South.

Southern Ocean warming leads to wetter East Asia, Western US

The Southern Ocean – between Antarctica and other continents – will eventually release heat absorbed from the atmosphere, leading to projected long-term increases in precipitation over East Asia and the Western U.S.

New York Outcomes Fund spurs, supports growers’ sustainability efforts

Run by the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the fund delivered payments and provided support to growers who planted cover crops and reduced tillage on nearly 15,000 acres in western and central New York.

Cornell to help revamp Chattanooga public transit with AI power

Cornell researchers are helping to transform portions of Chattanooga’s transit system into a seamless, AI-powered network where buses, shuttles, electric cars and bikes work together to provide the most efficient routes – at the push of a button.

Day-long conference celebrates Cornell Atkinson at 15

The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a daylong program on April 10, highlighting the center’s varied research and success in developing partnerships that benefit people and the planet.

Economic, environmental and social context are essential to achieving sustainable livestock production

Scientists publish findings from an analysis of 10 livestock systems around the globe

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