Last week's election left me a little despondent. It will likely put Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) - a vehement disbeliever in climate change - at the head of the Committee on the Environment and Public Works. There's also a good chance that Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) - another climate change denier - will be leading the Subcommittee on Science and Space. And then there's the House, where an anti-science sentiment has become ever more pervasive, including among several Republican members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Now, I honestly don't care if it's Republicans or Democrats on these committees. I might disagree about a particular policy idea but if it's scientifically sound, I'd say it's probably at least worth checking out. However, the problem here is that these committees are being run by people who don't even believe in science. Which is mind-blowing. I'm not saying they have to understand physics or quantum mechanics or all the ins and outs of geomorphology - but they should be willing to listen to the facts as presented and trust that scientists aren't trying to trick them or perpetrate some sort of massive hoax.

The sheer ignorance on display here - whether real or politically calculated - is beyond embarrassing.

But, luckily, this week has also brought some good news, at least on the international front. The US and China just announced that they've both committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Since the two countries are responsible for approximately 45% of global emissions, this is a really big deal.

By 2025, the US said it would emit 26% to 28% below 2005 emission levels. China, for its part, will work to cap emissions by 2030, if not sooner (and sooner is what many climate scientists and environmentalists would like to see - they worry 2030 is too late). It's not a done deal yet - the wto countries still have to sign a formal agreements - but it signals that both sides are willing to make cuts, invest in new technology and embrace more efficient energy sources. And, if the globe's two biggest polluters are finally going to take action, that could encourage others - like India - to follow suit.

The US can easily meet this goal IF there is cooperation from Congress. After this last election, that's a big if. Under President Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency had already mandated 30% cuts in carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants by 2030. But now, with both the House and Senate firmly in the hands of politicians who don't believe in climate change, there's a good chance those regulations - along with other environmental policies - will be weakened.

That could make it much harder to follow through on this agreement. Talk about embarrassing.