Weekly Round Up: August 31 - September 4

Energy and Environment

What a 1-Degree Temperature Increase Means

A new study on rising temperatures could have serious consequences for states such as California and Montana that are prone to forest fires, including a staggering increase in the extent and cost of fires wrote Tom Kenworthy.

A four-day workweek program can help save money for businesses and workers alike, while cutting down on energy consumption. This week’s It’s Easy Being Green looked at Utah’s implementation of the four-day week, which has already helped reduce energy consumption by an estimated 13 percent

Also, Ruy Teixeira found that the public is still showing strong support for the White House’s approach to tackling climate change, according to latest polls on the Obama administration’s energy policy.

Economy

The Geography of Innovation

A new Science Progress report explored the ways in which the federal government can play a role in helping to establish and grow regional centers of innovation. Heather Boushey looked at the August unemployment numbers, which slightly rose last month by .3 percent, and urged Congress to take steps to extend unemployment benefits for workers who have been without jobs for more than six months.

And Nayla Kazzi and David Madland underscored that workers with a job may be doing better than their younger counterparts, but those without a job face an unprecedented challenge.

National Security

Evaluating the Elections in Afghanistan

A CAP panel offered firsthand observations of last month's Afghanistan elections and what steps the United States needs to take going forward no matter who wins. Finally, in an “Ask the Expert” video, John Prendergast discussed the Obama administration’s Sudan policy and the importance of getting it right.