Senator John Warner thinks that Americans don’t understand the complexities of global warming, and that Policy makers in Washington are to blame. The Virginia Republican led efforts for new climate change legislation before retiring this year, and feels that the ads that people see don’t communicate the challenges of deploying new energy technologies.

"We've got to be more candid with the people about the complexities of these problems -- not to discourage them, but to be honest and forthright."

Speaking to a climate change conference, Warner also criticized Texas tycoon T. Boone Pickens' marketing campaign promoting wind power, even as he praised the billionaire-turned-energy-advocate's motivations.

Referring to the need for a revamped electrical grid to carry renewable energy, Warner said Pickens' promotions don't mention the cost of building such a system and the challenges of condemning land and writing new tax provisions in the process.

He also thinks that we shouldn’t give away too much money raised from a cap for tax credits. Warner believes these dollars should go towards energy research.

Despite these comments from the former Senator, the Obama administration is moving forward with energy restructuring and a sweeping climate change bill that would cap greenhouse gas emissions. Rep. Waxman hopes to mark up in the House Energy and Commerce Committee by Memorial Day, and has said that it would require companies to buy allowances if they emit more than the government cap, and would allow those businesses that fall below the cap to sell their allowances.

If there is a disconnect between the facts and what the public perception is, our leaders need to be up front and honest about it and any proposed changes. It will open the debate and in the end, make for better legislation.

There’s no getting around the topic of CO2 now. Everywhere you turn, you are hearing about it. No one can get away with not discussing it, which is the way it should be. We need to make our world healthier and cleaner for all. Businesses and consumers. The latest evidence of this is in what happened this week when two U.S. agencies agreed to address carbon dioxide emissions when financing overseas oil and gas projects. This settles a lawsuit brought by environmentalists and four local governments.

Under the agreement, the Export-Import Bank must begin accounting for CO2 emissions when evaluating fossil-fuel projects and will create an organization-wide carbon policy, and the Overseas Private Investment Corp. (OPIC) must set a goal to reduce major projects' emissions by 20 percent.

Both agencies must also commit to increase funding for renewable energy projects.

Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Boulder, Colo., sued the agencies in 2002, accusing them of violating the National Environmental Policy Act by providing more than $32 billion for fossil-fuel projects without assessing their impacts on climate change. Three California cities joined the lawsuit in 2006.

Fossil-fuel projects funded by the agencies between 1990 and 2003 produced the equivalent of nearly 8 percent of global CO2 emissions, the groups said.

"This settlement is a substantial victory for our climate," said Michelle Chan, senior policy analyst at Friends of the Earth. "It will force federal agencies to move away from fossil fuel projects and account for the climate impacts of their lending."

Phil Cogan, a spokesman for the Export-Import Bank, said the agency was pleased with the settlement. "The actions that we have agreed to take extend the efforts in promoting the environmentally friendly exports and concern for the environment that we've been leading the other exporters in since the early 1990s," he said.

That’s funny, I wonder why he didn’t take that posture during 1990 – 2003 when he was busy polluting the earth? Seems like he had no choice. It’s unfortunate that advocacy groups have to sue in order to get these large organizations to change behavior. In the future, let’s hope it’s different, that we are led by individuals who have more concern for the earth, for its people, for our grandchildren and for nature than the almighty dollar.

Barack Obama continued to pound away at the climate change and energy security issues during his inaugural speech on Tuesday.  In his first statement to the nation as president of the United States, he made no apologies and communicated the message in clear and concise language:

"Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet," said the President.

He also pledged that the United States would "roll back the specter of a warming planet.” Obama has called for spending $150 billion over 10 years to create 5 million "green jobs," and for a major overhaul of America's energy policy. All of this comes 10 years late, but better late than never. Through these efforts, the end result will be a stronger economy, more energy independence and more jobs – jobs that will last and not be downsized over time.

"The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act, not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. ... We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories," he said. "All this we can do. All this we will do."

Pure inspiration.  Now it’s time for action.