"Meet the Senate's New Climate Denial Caucus"

The mid-term election raised the prominence of senators who deny the established science of climate change and promote the interests of fossil energy companies.

"Well, folks, it wasn't such a great night on the climate action front. It looks like the millions of dollars that environmental philanthropist Tom Steyer invested in the midterms didn't buy much other than a fledgling political infrastructure to sock away for 2016. With Republicans now in control of the Senate, we're likely to see a bill to push through the Keystone XL pipeline coming down the pike soon. And Mitch McConnell, probably the coal industry's biggest booster, retained his seat.

In fact, McConnell and his climate-denying colleague James Inhofe of Oklahoma—the likely chair of the Senate's Environment and Public Works committee—won a lot of new friends on Capitol Hill last night. It probably won't surprise you to learn that most of the Senate's newly elected Republicans are big boosters of fossil fuels and don't agree with the mainstream scientific consensus on global warming."

Tim McDonnell reports for Mother Jones/Climate Desk November 5, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"GOP Election Rout Delivers Blow to U.S. Leadership Role on Climate Change" (InsideClimate News)

"Climate Change Activists Come Up Short In Midterm Elections" (NPR)