Oct. 10--IF THE climate of the world is changing because of man-made pollution -- a thesis supported by a majority of the global scientific community -- then a sense of urgency is essential if something is to be done before it's too late.

Unfortunately, a sense of urgency still seems to be missing. To be sure, fine words are spoken, as they were when President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao pledged action last month at a daylong climate summit at the United Nations preceding the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh.

But before that meeting, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated the obvious: "The climate negotiations are proceeding at glacial speed. The world's glaciers are now melting faster than human progress to protect them -- and us."

While the U.N. chief was subsequently reported to be encouraged by what was said, not much has happened since.

As always, the United States is key to the effort of combating the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. For eight years, the Bush administration squandered America's leadership role by its refusal to take the problem seriously. The Kyoto accords were not ratified and thereafter the administration gave no more than lip service to the cause.

The Obama Administration offered a break with that sorry record. It supports the American Clean Energy and Security Act, HR 2454, which would reduce global-warming pollution by 83 percent over 40 years, as well as encourage clean-energy sources and the jobs that go with them. On June 26, the bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 219-212.

Last week, a similar bill was finally introduced in the Senate. Some Democratic senators are still expressing concerns that coal and other industries might be harmed. Talk about not understanding what's at stake.

Then last Friday, Mr. Obama's top climate and energy official, Carol M. Browner, said that there was virtually no chance Congress would have a bill ready for the President to sign this fall. That means that when delegates assemble in Copenhagen to negotiate a new global climate treaty in December, the American delegation will not have the advantage of showing that its words have been backed by actions. American leadership will again be found wanting.

Yes, the issue of health-care reform has dominated Congress, but it's too bad that the issue of the Earth's health can't be dealt with, too. Americans can only hope that the planet will not make them pay dearly in the future for the lack of urgency shown now.

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