While Washington waits for the Senate to complete its work on health care, the rest of the world is gearing up for the beginning of the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen.  With the United States and China both announcing aspirational limits on their own carbon emissions, the Copenhagen talks might provide more concrete outcomes than seemed possible only a few weeks ago.  Congressional delegations will be attending the talks, and with a House bill and the outlines of a Senate companion being fashioned, there is a level of optimism for meaningful accomplishment both internationally and in Congress.

There are three hearings of note this week in Congress.  In the House, the Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on the economic impacts of climate change.  Remember, Democrats on the Agriculture Committee forced major concessions from Chairman Waxman before a climate bill could be brought to the floor.  A second hearing in the Select Committee on Global Warming will discuss climate science.  This will be the first hearing since leaked e-mails from the University of East Anglia climate scientists became public knowledge.  Look for this hearing to turn on the issue of those e-mails.  Finally, the Senate Energy Committee will hold a hearing on policy options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  With the acrimony on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) panel, the Senate Energy Committee will be taking a broader role than in previous years.  Key to their success may be comments from Ranking Member Murkowski, who has previously acknowledged the consensus scientific position and could support a cap-and-trade system.

Wednesday, December 2

At 10 a.m. in the House, the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will hold a hearing on the “State of Climate Science” in Room 318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, and the House Committee on Agriculture will hold a hearing on the economic impacts of climate change in Room 1300 of the Longworth House Office Building.

Also at 10 a.m. in Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will conduct a hearing on policy options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

For further information about this topic, please contact Akin Gump.