2010 is over, and while there were some environmental victories, two events that could have been huge for the planet–the passing of a comprehensive Climate Bill and the UN Climate Summit in Cancun–ended up dead in the water and lackluster, respectively.

With the changes in power brought about by the mid-term elections, it’s doubtful that 2011 will prove to be more fruitful, but here are the issues you should keep your eye on, just in case.

1. U.S. Greenhouse Gas Regulations

On December 23rd, EPA announced that it will roll out new, stricter GHG standards for power plants and refineries in 2011, and will issue final standards for these sectors in May 2012 and November 2012, respectively. 
In 2008, several states, local governments and environmental organizations sued the EPA over the agency’s failure to update the pollution standards for fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries, two of the largest source categories of GHG pollution in the United States. The first set of actions will give EPA authority to permit GHGs in seven states (Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, and Wyoming).

2. The Gulf Oil Spill Lawsuit

In mid-December 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it had filed a lawsuit against BP, Transocean, and seven other defendants they say are partly responsible for the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. As new facts about the magnitude and unecessary nature of the spill continue to be uncovered, it will be interesting to see to what degree these companies are made to atone for their transgressions. Many have criticized the Obama administration for its ban on offshore drilling following the spill, saying it crippled an already damaged Gulf Coast economy and drove up the price of oil.

3. Finding Funding

While the solar and wind industries have grown rapidly over the past few years, many policy-makers claim they are still too small to support society’s massive energy consumption habits. Others say that with the right influx of research and development dollars, these shortcomings could be vanquished, yet billions of dollars in subsidies are still being funneled to the dying coal, gas, and oil industries instead. But could that be about to change?

MoneyMorning.com reports, “When combined, wind, solar and geothermal production right now supplies just 2.7% of global energy demand (1.2% in the United States), but that number is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decade.”

The article went on to point out that U.S spending on solar projects will likely double every year between now and 2015, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. And Forbes recently reported that solar power development has become a major focus of national energy policy in India, representative of increasing potential demand around the globe.

4. Playing Nice With China

China has been investing more money in clean energy technologies than any other country since 2009. While the U.S. and other nations can sense that they are losing the renewable energy race, they still can’t up their minds about whether or not it’s time for collaboration.

TheHill.com reports: On one hand, the U.S. has expanded its collaboration with China on joint development of low-carbon technologies. But there are also simmering tensions over China’s green energy trade practices. The Obama administration escalated the conflict December 22 by announcing it will seek formal World Trade Organization talks with China over its wind industry subsidies, which U.S. officials believe have run afoul of WTO rules.

5. UN Climate Talks in South Africa

COP15 in Copenhagen was a complete failure, with many nations flat-out refusing to compromise on emissions reduction goals. And while the atmosphere was more amicable at COP16 in Cancun (maybe it was the tropical setting?), the agreements achieved did little more than set a framework for continued talks in Durban, South Africa in 2011.