Climate Change

Two days of secret meetings in China during July 2008 may have laid the foundation for a new cooperation between the U.S. and China on climate change.

"A climate change bill working its way through Congress this week has been packed with amendments aimed at giving the coal industry a chance to survive if technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions is eventually perfected and deployed."

In the House climate bill, "consumers would receive around $750 billion in direct and indirect handouts and subsidies through 2030 to offset the higher energy costs."

An MIT study published in a major science journal predicts that global warming will be twice as severe as previous estimates.

The House Energy Committe amended its climate bill to include a "Clean Energy Deployment Administration" within the Energy Department that would fund new nuclear plants as well as renewables.

In Alaska, some land is rising as it is relieved of the weight of glaciers melted by climate change.

The House Energy Committee begins markup on the Democrats' climate change bill today.

"America's future climate law began working its way through Congress this week, rewritten with new details and changes that were negotiated to give the coal industry generous incentives. Environmental groups are going along, believing the weakened bill is still the best hope for action on climate."

This week begins a showdown on climate legislation in the House Energy Committee. The Democrats have votes to pass it -- but at what price?