The good news is that climate change has the attention of the U.S. Senate. The bad news is they are still unwilling to provide leadership necessary to begin mandatory emissions cuts, as the McCain-Lieberman climate bill was voted down. This occurred despite the Senate passing a resolution noting that the U.S. must eventually enact mandatory limits on global warming pollution. But as Senator John McCain stated - the climate change issue will be back, scientific findings will continue to accumulate, as will accounts of its impacts. Shame of those Senators that put off necessary policy, increasing the risks to humankind from massive and perhaps abrupt climate shifts.

Senate Rejects Mandatory Emissions Cuts in Energy Bill

The debate over global warming gathered steam in the Senate this week. As part of a broad energy bill, members began considering several amendments aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions and other heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming.

Today, after three hours of debate, the Senate rejected the most stringent of the amendments, which called for mandatory reductions on so-called greenhouse gases. It was offered by Connecticut Democrat Joseph Lieberman and Arizona Republican John McCain, who was resigned to his amendment's fate even before the vote.