Midterm Elections and Climate Change

The midterms have already had a dramatic effect on foreign policy through the Rumsfeld resignation. I wanted to add, however, to the dialogue Roger Alford began yesterday on foreign policy impacts by focusing on another hot button issue: climate change.

When withdrawing from Kyoto, President Bush acknowledged that the U.S. at the time produced almost 20% of the world’s human-induced greenhouse gases. Democratic control of the Senate, which seems virtually certain as Allen appears on the verge of conceding, means that Barbara Boxer becomes Chair of the Committee on Environment and Public Works. She has already indicated a new direction for the Committee, with an explicit emphasis on global warming. I include an excerpt from the Greenwire Report here:

“As the new chair of the EPW Committee,” Boxer said in a statement, “I am already planning for vigorous oversight and legislation to make sure that the U.S. Senate is once again an environmental leader in protecting the health of our families and our children and addressing pressing concerns like global warming.” Boxer issued her statement as the Associated Press called victories for Democrats in tight races for Senate seats in Montana and Virginia.