"Advocates for comprehensive climate legislation should look no further than the nation's unemployment rate as they ponder their chances for success this year.

With more than 10 percent of the country's work force currently out of a job, experts say it won't bode well for the climate bill's prospects if that number gets any worse.

'It was already difficult to achieve agreement in the Congress on climate change, but in the presence of double-digit unemployment, which it appears we'll have for the first two quarters of 2010 and beyond that, it'll be even more challenging,' said Robert Stavins, director of Harvard University's environmental economics program."

Darren Samuelsohn reports for ClimateWire January 12, 2010. [2]

See Also:
[3]
"Campaign Politics, Jobs Crisis May Limit 2010 Agenda" (Greenwire) [3]

"As Senate Climate Bill Languishes, Lobbyists Press EPA on Carbon Regs" (Greenwire)
[4]
"Energy-Only Option Tests Senate's Climate Bill Backers" (Greenwire) [5]

"U.S. Chamber Urges Obama, Congress to Rethink Climate Push" (Greenwire) [6]