As of now, we don't even have required reporting in this country of greenhouse gas emissions. The program would work much in same way as cap-and-trade we have with the acid rain program that controls sulfur dioxide emissions in this country.

We hear all the time when we go up to the Hill and start talking to congressmen that they don't hear from their constituents [about global warming], That when they go to town hall meetings and reach out to their constituents they hear about schools, they hear about crime.

The picture they paint ? much higher sea levels with mind-boggling implications for entire communities, populations, and economies ? is sobering. It's hard to imagine how governments and individuals will cope with sea level rising at rates of up to a meter per century.

We're going to need all forms of energy production, including more coal and nuclear. Despite the Bush administration's support for clean coal technologies, the US is not investing anywhere near what will be needed to make this work.

The report represents a pragmatic and meaningful action plan to reduce emissions.

Voluntary programs that are aimed at reducing emissions...are offset by the growth because there are no requirements overall.