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.


Carla Gomes named Schmidt AI2050 Senior Fellow

Philanthropic organization Schmidt Sciences has named Carla P. Gomes of Cornell Bowers CIS an AI2050 Senior Fellow for her work on innovative AI approaches to advance scientific discovery, focusing on significant sustainability challenges.

Recycling human, animal excreta could help meet nutrient supply for global crops

A global analysis by Cornell researchers found that recycling all the human and livestock feces and urine on the planet would contribute substantially to meeting the nutrient supply for all crops worldwide, thereby dramatically reducing the dependency on fossil fuels.

Superhot rock energy could power geothermal systems anywhere

Superhot rock geothermal – often found at least six miles below Earth’s surface – could offer abundant clean energy, finds a new report from Cornell researchers and the nonprofit Clean Air Task Force.

Around Cornell

Cornellians at COP29 advocate for research, collaboration, climate ambition

A small delegation of Cornell faculty, staff and students attended COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in November, where they advocated for cross-cutting partnerships to help countries achieve climate goals.

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From tradition to innovation: CROPPS Symposium explores sustainable agriculture for hotter, drier climates

The 2024 CROPPS Annual Meeting and Symposium held in October in the Sonoran Desert region of Arizona provided an ideal stage for discussions on sustainable agriculture in hot, dry environments. 

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$1.6M supports land-grant research for NY farms, forests, communities

Fifty-four research projects addressing New York’s agriculture, environment and communities have collectively received $1.6 million from the USDA.

Things to do: Apple Bake-Off, orchestra and wind, Mohawk River exhibit

Celebrate the season and give back with an apple bake-off this weekend, and enjoy symphony concerts and learn about New York’s Mohawk River through an exhibit at Mann Library.

Mini smart city drives design of safer automated transportation

The Information and Decision Science Laboratory is designing a better – and safer – future for transportation with the help of a 20-by-20-foot “smart” scaled city and a fleet of motorized cars, drones and virtual reality technology.

Making beneficiaries pay for new power lines is fair strategy

Using the “beneficiary pays” principle for new power infrastructure will encourage investment in the grid without causing disputes over cost-sharing, new research shows.