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

• 2012 was a wild year for the environment, and storm Sandy made sure the year ended with a horrible bang in the US. But, will 2013 be better or worse, that will be for us to decide.
• The US government handed down a fine to Transocean, owner of the oil platform involved in the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, of over $1 billion. $800 million will go to addressing economic and environmental issues in the Gulf of Mexico region. These companies make so much money that they can devastate our environment, pay the fines, and continue their business, its shameful.
• Obama has been re-elected and his willingness to comprehensively address climate change is yet to be seen. I hope that Obama has some surprises for us, but he can’t change his tune without our loud support. Checking out Bill McKibben’s 350.org is a good place to start.
• With climate change comes human adaption. Humans will migrate and so will our economic activity. Its looking like the US-Canadian border is a good place to buy land right now, imagine Nebraska, the Dakotas and other northern states becoming much more active for agriculture and human habitation.
• Republicans questioned the very existence of climate change in the last Presidential election. Unless they change their tune they will continue to lose elections, but at least one Republican has the clarity of mind to even mention that climate change is a real problem. He waited until his last day in office though, so while he may have some clarity of mind he doesn’t have the fortitude to bring up the issue when he actually has the ability to affect anything at all. Sigh. Read More→