A question of balance

摘要

The turmoil in the financial markets could lead to severe cost-cutting by governments, but US politicians would do well to note the benefits of continued support for clean energy and climate policies. As Nature went to press, a US$700-billion rescue plan for the collapsing financial sector remained in limbo in the US Congress. Some such deal may yet be passed. If it is, it still may not be enough to stop the global economy from sliding into recession. Faced with the prospect of fresh outlays and declining revenue, the US government may soon be looking for ways to tighten its belt, a situation likely to be echoed in Europe and beyond. For science and technology, this could mean less money for basic research, education and clean energy, and could pose fresh threats to the long-promised climate legislation in the United States.