‘Green’ roofs may help fight global warming

October 5th, 2009 LONDON - A new study has determined that 'green roofs', that is, roofs with a cover of plants, can significantly cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. According to a report in New Scientist, Kristin Getter and colleagues at Michigan State University in East Lansing carried out the study.

September 24th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Roofs full of green plants could help fight global warming, say scientists. Kristin Getter, Michigan State University (MSU) horticulturist and colleagues, who conducted the study point out that green roofs are multi-functional.

September 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Greening of roofs by having plants on them is gaining popularity in the US, where their numbers have increased by 30 percent from 2006 to 2007. Benefits include improved storm water management, energy conservation, reduced noise and air pollution, improved biodiversity, and even a better return on investment than traditional roofing.

September 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have carried out a study to determine the effect of the success of the growth of the sedum plant on "green" roofs. "Greening" a roof, or covering a roof with vegetation, is gaining popularity in North America, where the number of green roofs increased 30 percent from 2006 to 2007.

September 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Melting permafrost in arctic regions, triggered by global warming, will release underground methane. Once released, methane would speed up global warming by trapping the earths heat radiation about 20 times more efficiently than the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide.

July 22nd, 2009 Study calculates warming threat to Colorado RiverBOULDER, Colo. — University of Colorado researchers say global warming increases the chances that the Colorado River system's reservoirs could be depleted by mid-century.

July 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The accidental discovery of a bowl-shaped molecule that pulls carbon dioxide out of the air paves the way for exciting new possibilities to deal with global warming. These possibilities include genetically engineering microbes to manufacture those carbon dioxide "catchers", said J.A.

June 26th, 2009 Obama: US lags behind Europe on climate changeWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says European nations have moved faster than the United States on global warming and that he'd like to see America play a greater leadership role. Obama told reporters at the White House Friday that he has been "very frank and blunt" with Chancellor Angela Merkel in explaining the obstacles that have gotten in the way of climate change efforts at home.

June 24th, 2009 Rural, urban lawmakers strike agreement on climateWASHINGTON — Rural members of Congress have won key concessions from urban lawmakers to limit the pollution blamed for global warming. Democratic leaders can now move forward with the legislation this week.

June 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research has indicated that an increase in temperature of only a couple of degrees may increase the dispersal of plants in Northern forests and the spread of plant species into forest clearings after felling or forest fires. The research, in the impact of global warming on seed and pollen dispersal, was led by University of Helsinki researcher Anna Kuparinen.

June 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new study, a team of scientists has found a direct relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and global warming. The study was done by Damon Matthews, a professor in Concordia University's Department of Geography, Planning and the Environment, along with colleagues from Victoria and the UK.

May 27th, 2009 LONDON - US President Barrack Obama's energy adviser has suggested that as part of efforts to slow global warming, all the world's roofs should be painted white. According to a report in the Telegraph, Professor Steven Chu, the US Energy Secretary, said that the unusual proposal would mean homes in hot countries would save energy and money on air conditioning by deflecting the sun's rays.

April 27th, 2009 Clarification: Gingrich v Gore storyWASHINGTON — In a story April 25, The Associated Press reported that former Vice President Al Gore compared Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, and convicted swindler Bernard Madoff during a Capitol Hill hearing on global warming legislation.

April 23rd, 2009 Ashley Judd urges Congress to fight global warmingWASHINGTON — Actress Ashley Judd and TV personality Jeff Corwin are urging Congress to spend $7 billion a year to help safeguard America's wildlife from the impact of global warming. Judd is a longtime environmental activist.

January 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Antarctica is warming, despite the recent scientific consensus that the southernmost continent was not being impacted by global warming, a study published in the journal Nature said Thursday. Scientists had observed warming in the Antarctic Peninsula that extends north from the icy continent, but the rest of the continent was believed to be stable or even cooling as the rest of the Earth's continents saw temperatures increase.