Tony Fratto: Ready for a New Decade? Not so Fast. - CNBC

After the Copenhagen summit debacle, all bets are off on climate change legislation and the White House's goal to create a system forcing consumers to pay for carbon usage. In the mean time, the Environmental Protection Agency is proceeding on its own, separate path to force Americans to pay for their carbon emissions.

Uncertainty over the future of these two unfinished policies is depressing hiring among businesses small and large as they try to anticipate the impact on bottom lines, and 2010 will see businesses still seeking clarity.

Unite on climate [hoax] issues, at least

Referring to the recent Copenhagen Climate Change Conference, the former premier said, "Our government could not shed proper light on Bangladesh's situation, and that is why Bangladesh did not get anything from the conference."

She said Bangladesh has to play a vital role in forcing developed countries into signing an accord that will make it mandatory to cut carbon emissions by 50 percent.

USDA Rethinks Climate Analysis 

In a statement issued in December, Vilsack instructed USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber to work with the EPA to review assumptions in the FASOM model, to update the model, and to develop options on how best to avoid unintended consequences for agriculture that might result from climate change legislation.