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.


Youth build resilience in climate-vulnerable Sierre Leone

A collaboration based in Bo City empowers future leaders to invest in climate adaptation, providing a model for other "secondary cities."

Widespread ‘enhanced rock weathering’ could slow global warming

One of the most recent technologies for sequestering carbon, enhanced rock weathering could remove up to a gigaton of carbon by 2100 if adopted globally.

‘Unprecedented’ emissions maps will hone mitigation

The new, high-resolution maps calculate global emissions from croplands by region, crop and source – enabling hyper-local mitigation. 

Composers tackle environmental issues in new exhibit

A multimedia Cornell University Library exhibition, demonstrating how music can be a powerful vehicle for raising environmental awareness, opens Feb. 20 at the Sidney Cox Library of Music and Dance.

Grants fund oyster restoration, ‘cattlevoltaics’

Five new projects from the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and The Nature Conservancy seek to protect pollinators, restore oyster habitats, manage flood risk and support “cattlevoltaics.”

11 new researchers become Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellows

The new cohort will investigate the use of AI to advance exploration in science, technology and engineering. 

Around Cornell

Removing southern African fences may help wildlife, boost economy

Across parts of southern Africa, fences aim to separate cattle from other animals to prevent the spread of diseases, but they also restrict wildlife migrations. 

‘Share the joy’: Great Backyard Bird Count begins Feb. 13

The four-day event, co-sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is expected to attract nearly 1 million participants this year, providing a global snapshot just before migration.

Underwater 3D printing could transform maritime construction

An interdisciplinary collaboration has developed a way to 3D-print concrete underwater – a technique that could transform on-site maritime construction and the repair of critical infrastructure.