What a Republican Senate really means for the climate

Spending on green infrastructure likely under Biden, but any hopes for climate requirements for businesses much farther off

Climate advocates rejoicing at Joe Biden's presidential victory are also quietly absorbing the blow of Republicans possibly keeping control of the US Senate - which would kneecap significant efforts to fight globe-heating pollution.

If Joe Biden is president and Congress is still divided, there will probably still be large-scale spending on green infrastructure, like renewable power, electric vehicles and transit. But any hopes for climate requirements for businesses, like a clean energy standard, would feel much farther off.