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.


Faculty event to highlight how teaching about climate change can move beyond discourse and despair

On Jan. 28, the Center for Teaching Innovation and Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art will co-host “Teaching About Climate Change: Art, Action and Reflection,” a faculty panel, teaching workshop and exhibit tour exploring how instructors can engage the humanities, climate change and community in their teaching.

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More productive farming lowers global emissions

A new analysis shows that improved farm productivity has been the driving force in keeping global greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture in check, with implications for how countries support farmers and research. 

Scientists map key oceanic unknowns in climate interventions

Researchers review climate intervention strategies to cut emissions and improve oceanic health.

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NYC residents agree: heat pumps improve comfort

Residents of a 10-unit apartment building retrofitted with electric heat pumps preferred the pumps to their oil-fueled boiler.

AI improves flood projections under climate change

Physics-based models should be supplemented with AI hydrological models rather than relying on site-specific estimates, researchers find.

Study reveals opportunities, challenges of climate messaging

Widely cited messages tend to be effective but short-term messaging can only go so far in swaying people regarding the urgency of climate change, an international team led by a Cornell researcher has found.

Soil molecular diversity spikes as microbes decompose plants

As soil microbes break down plant residues, they produce a diverse set of molecules, but this diversity starts to fall after the initial phase of decomposition (roughly 32 days). Understanding how soils retain or emit carbon dioxide during this process may inform climate change resilience efforts.

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2025 Year in Review

Cornell’s impact was felt near and far, from the lacrosse fields to research labs and beyond in a turbulent 2025.

Researchers tackle AI’s energy problem with a greener fix

As researchers are racing to find greener ways to power AI, a new study explores a promising solution: analog in-memory computing, utilizing analog chips.