GlobalWarmingisReal contributor Anders Hellum-Alexander wraps-up and comments on the climate and environmental news headlines for the past week:

• The “urban heat bubble” theory explains why urban areas are hotter than their neighboring natural environments. More heat is absorbed when we cover the land in asphalt roads, cement sidewalks and tar roofs and get rid of vegetation and water features. A new concept that is taking hold is called “green roofs,” which involves putting both plants and renewable energy generators (like solar) on our roofs. Imagine a roof that both feeds you, powers your home and reduces the effect of the urban heat bubble.
• Drought has been a major issue in the US for the last two years and might continue to plague us. With multi-year droughts, record forest fires and huge frequent storms much of the US government budget is being diverted to disaster relief, we are paying the price of altering the natural system. That is just the immediate impact that we are already experiencing, what about the melting of our poles, are you ready for the melting of the Arctic?
• Senator Barbara Boxer has proposed a Carbon Tax bill in the US Senate. Republicans have always prided themselves with being financially responsible during the campaign season, now they can follow through with that rhetoric and get behind a market-based solution to climate change. Of course, they will first have to admit that climate change is real and human caused.
• The US military has been ahead of the game on many technologies, and right now they are pushing forward aggressively on clean energy and adaption to the effects and threats of climate change. The Department of Defense has just publish a Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap.
• Scientists released research last week warning the a 1.5 degree C rise in global temperature is enough to melt the Siberian permafrost; and likely much of the rest of the permafrost throughout the rest of the northern latitudes. The melting permafrost may push the climate system past a tipping point.  This means that if a 2 degree C global temperature increase is too much, and 1.5 degrees C is enough to melt permafrost that will add another .5 degrees C to global warming then we are closer to the point of no return then we think. I personally think runaway climate change is already ensured, adaption should be our primary focus with prevention as a side effect of adaption. Read More→

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