On November 17, 2009 the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee held a hearing to explore the international aspects of global climate change.

In his opening statement Chairman Bingaman (D-New Mexico) stated the committee’s intent to use the hearing to learn how U.S. domestic efforts would fit in with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He expressed concern that U.S. agencies involved in the promotion of clean technologies lack a unified approach to guide their efforts and his belief that the development of a robust domestic clean technology industry would be vital to ensuring competitiveness in the world market. A link to Chairman Bingaman’s statement can be found here. Ranking member Murkowski (R-Alaska) stressed the need for a global solution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. She indicated that Congress should develop a carbon reduction policy and program that the rest of the world will want to follow and one that shows other countries carbon emissions can be reduced while sustaining economic growth. A link to Ranking Member Murkowski’s statement can be found here.

Testimony was provided by the Council on Foreign Relations, Climate Advisers, The Institute for the 21^st Century Energy, The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and The National Foreign Trade Council. A link to the testimony of each witness and an archived web cast of the hearing can be found here.