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.


Improved test screens fungal pests for biofuel sources

Cornell researchers have improved a method that can now rapidly screen hundreds of fungal species to find ones that can most efficiently produce biofuels from such nonfood sources as cornstalks. (Feb. 11, 2009)

Student talks on globalization and the environment at World Social Forum

Natural resources major Apollonya Porcelli '10 spoke on violence against nature and the social and economic structures that can prevent it, from grassroots to governmental levels. (Feb. 11, 2009)

Cornell helps India's small farmers fight moth larvae with genetically modified eggplant

Small farmers in India will soon have a cheaper, safer and more effective option for growing one of India's favorite foods: genetically modified eggplant, developed with Cornell's help. (Feb. 10, 2009)

Hotel and Johnson schools team to offer real-world sustainability course

Global poverty, climate change, ecosystem degradation and other issues are being tackled in a new course offered by the School of Hotel Administration and the Johnson School. (Jan. 28, 2009)

Senior honored for men's fashion line that mixes used clothing with organic textiles

Heber Sanchez '09 has reaped a $25,000 Geoffrey Beene National Scholarship for designing a sustainable fashion line for young men that combines second-hand clothing with organic textiles. (Jan. 27, 2009)

Students help Botswana firm that markets wild-food products and helps locals

Over winter break, a Cornell team went to Botswana to help a fledgling natural-food products company that produces snacks from plants in the wild while benefiting local communities. (Jan. 14, 2009)

Decline of carbon dioxide-gobbling plankton coincided with ancient global cooling

A new study suggests that after a sudden rise in species numbers, oceanic plankton called diatoms abruptly declined about 33 million years ago -- trends that coincided with severe global cooling. (Jan. 7, 2009)

Help conserve energy during winter break

Campus officials encourage the Cornell community to help save energy over the holiday break by turning off computers and unplugging electronics. (Dec. 22, 2008)

CU experts hold first-of-kind meeting to help state leaders cope with climate change

Conservationists, policymakers and industry leaders were in Ithaca Dec. 8 to hear from Cornell experts on how climate change affects state ecosystems and how best to respond to a warming planet. (Dec. 18, 2008)