Courts as Battlefields in Climate [Scam] Fights - NYTimes.com

Despite the recent victories, climate lawsuits are still at a preliminary stage. Mr. Segal, the lawyer who made the “nuisance lawsuit” joke, said issues like proving climate change, its link to the companies and the further link to the damage “have not been addressed.”

If the cases go to trial, he said, “these burdens will be particularly tough in the climate context.”

A lawyer working with Mr. Pawa in the Kivalina suit, Stephen D. Susman, agreed that the road ahead was uphill.

“The legal landscape is horrible,” said Mr. Susman, of Houston. “No lawyer can say this is a way to make money.”

[Let's see how well this resonates with voters in November]: Climate [Fraud], Energy Programs Could See Boosts Despite Budget Freeze - NYTimes.com

Because tackling climate change is touted as one of the Obama administration's top priorities, observers say a budget freeze is unlikely to starve programs aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, even if it means squeezing cash out of other areas.

"I suspect, given this administration's agenda, that they will do all they can to protect the climate change money," said Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), ranking member of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee.

Simpson called Obama's announcement a step forward but said he would prefer an across-the-board freeze on federal spending and even cuts in some areas, particularly at EPA -- which received a significant funding boost last year.

Climate change [hoax] programs at EPA, the Interior Department and the Forest Service received $385 million under the fiscal 2010 appropriations bill, a $155 million increase over 2009 levels. Overall, EPA received $10.3 billion for fiscal 2010, a 36 percent boost over 2009 levels.

Experts say the agency will need those funds to keep pace with pending greenhouse gas rules.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has said that in her list of priorities, climate change is at the very top [but for voters who actually have to pay the bills, climate change is at the very bottom], said industry attorney and former EPA air chief Jeff Holmstead. "That's something where a tighter budget or a more limited budget or a less expansive budget could create some real problems," he said.