The Lawmakers

For a politician, Sen. John McCain doesn't sound very optimistic about staving off global warming. "We're making great progress," he says, "but I'm not convinced that we are going to devise solutions in time to prevent serious damage to the environment."

Not that McCain isn't doing his part. At a time when some Republicans in Congress dismiss global warming as a "hoax" perpetrated by environmentalists, McCain and Sen. Joe Lieberman have forged a bipartisan counterassault to tackle the crisis. The Climate Stewardship Act, which they introduced in 2003, is the only bill that seeks to force American industry to reduce its total emission of greenhouse gases. Under the measure -- modeled on the market-based program which successfully reduced acid rain in the 1990s -- businesses that exceed a federal cap on emissions would be permitted to buy pollution "credits" from companies that cut their output of CO2. "It's an ingenious solution in which polluters are paying pioneers to innovate," says Lieberman.

Although the Senate has twice rejected the measure, McCain and Lieberman have held repeated hearings on the issue, exposing the tactics of their opponents. In one of the most memorable sessions, McCain shot down fellow Republicans who were brandishing a statement signed by "experts" on climate science -- pointing out that Perry Mason and a Spice Girl were among the signatories.

The Bush administration also refuses to support a mandatory cap on climate-warming pollution, arguing for voluntary limits. Lieberman, 63, calls the president's do-nothing approach "monumental negligence," while McCain, 69, attacks it as "disgraceful." But the deadlock will continue, they say, as long as Congress and the White House remain under the influence of polluting industries. In 2004 alone, the energy industry contributed nearly $38 million to congressional candidates.

"We see governors and mayors across the nation taking action on climate change, and yet here in Washington, the special interests rule," says McCain. "But they won't rule forever."

Next: The Tide Turner: Dr. Robert Corell

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