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 Atkinson, EDF partner on three sustainability projects

Cornell Atkinson and Environmental Defense Fund announce three new Innovation for Impact [link] awards for research projects that aim to accelerate problem-solving research and catalyze rapid integration of research into effective policy.

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Plantationocene conference to examine plantations’ legacies

In a virtual conference on April 15–16, scholars, activists and practitioners from around the world will meet to explore plantations’ deep-rooted legacies, including racial inequality, dispossession and climate change.

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Seven students to receive SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

Representing Cornell’s four contract colleges, the recipients of the 2021 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence will be recognized during a virtual ceremony April 14.

CALS welcomes six new faculty

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) welcomes six new faculty members, advancing its commitment to pursuing purpose-driven science and improving the lives of people across New York state and around the world.

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Aluminum-anode batteries offer sustainable alternative

Cornell researchers are using low-cost aluminum to create a rechargeable battery that is safer, less expensive and more sustainable than lithium-ion batteries.

Library service interruptions and updates

Cornell University Library urges patrons to plan ahead of upcoming, temporary service interruptions.

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Climate change has cost 7 years of ag productivity growth

Despite agricultural advancements, a Cornell-led study shows that global farming productivity is 21% lower since the 1960s than it could have been without climate change.

Local planners play key role in conserving biodiversity

Training and resources supporting municipal officials can help incorporate biodiversity into local land use planning, according to research led by Shorna Allred, evaluating a program in New York's Hudson Valley.

Sustainability efforts shine with new solar collectors

A new solar collector array atop Guterman Research Center is one of several sustainability projects, from reusable dining serviceware to living laboratory experiments, that are continuing apace despite the many interruptions made by COVID-19 to campus life.