TOUGH ENVIRONMENT

Obama's Climate Challenge

Legislation to back up Copenhagen pledge will be tough.

President Obama may have secured momentum for global action on climate change at Copenhagen with American pledges to reduce emissions, but following through will be a major challenge. "There is no doubt that energy legislation is going to be tough, but I feel very confident about making an argument to the American people that we should be a leader in clean energy technology—that that will be one of the key engines that drives economic growth for decades to come," Obama said in a recent interview with The Washington Post. While there has been some hints of bipartisan support from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who is working with Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Kerry (D-MA) on a bill, the poisoned political climate after party-line votes on health-care reform could spread over to the climate debate. "I don't think the Senate has an appetite for another such epic, polarized legislative war this session," Lieberman told the Post.