Dragged into global warming

Welcome to the global debate, Mr. President.

President George W. Bush acknowledged the "serious challenge of global climate change" in his State of the Union address, adding a greener reason to his long campaign for U.S. energy independence. While history inspires skepticism about his convictions, the president has pledged to implement encouraging, if measured, policy changes. Running on fumes of the general election, the newly empowered Democratic leadership in Congress is in a position to hold him to his promises -- and then some.

Among the president's proposals is increasing the supply of renewable and alternative fuels, revising Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars and extending the light-truck rule. But he would rather have his administration come up with the standards. Right idea, but too little, too late for credibility's sake. Better that Congress present its best proposal to the president to sign.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein last week introduced a bill revising the standards for a manufacturer's average fuel efficiency by 10 mpg, to 35 mpg by '. Sen. Maria Cantwell has signed on. And Rep. Dave Reichert, the Auburn Republican who apparently has become convinced of global warming, introduced a bill to improve the average standard to 33 mpg by 2016.

Additionally, the president issued an executive order directing federal agencies to purchase plug-in hybrids -- which could hasten their commercial availability. Proponents of this technology acknowledge the vehicles will be pulling juice off electricity grids, many of which are powered by greenhouse-gas-producing coal plants. But that still would be a net improvement over the carbon emitted from strictly gasoline-fueled cars.

The president was dragged into this debate. The administration acknowledged global warming only indirectly last month when it proposed that polar bears be listed as a threatened species.

But pressure has been mounting, as cities (including Seattle) and states have been moving ahead with their own initiatives, not waiting for an overdue federal epiphany. A day before Bush's speech, the chief executives of 10 companies -- impressively including BP America and Duke Energy -- urged a national cap on greenhouse-gas emissions.

Bush did not mention their entreaty, but his speech signals an important step in the right direction.