Yet Another Climate Report--And More Denials

The latest report from the National Research Council should add some urgency to the debate over how to limit heat-trapping gases. But the responses are predictable, particularly from the global-warming-, climate-change-denying crowd.

The conclusions drawn are clear, if not the specific policy preferences: it is strongly suggested that probably the best way to reign in carbon emissions is to put an overall price on carbon, which has the effect of steering investments into low-carbon, energy-efficient technologies and processes.

The report's authors come from inside and outside the scientific establishment, encompassing business, industry, politics, and representing different ideological stripes.

Still, the broad-based call to arms is falling on deaf ears, even among Democrats who would rather focus on keeping the economy from stalling.

One can only wonder when it will be safe to go outside again and advocate an aggressive, comprehensive national energy policy of carbon mitigation.