They may seem like two disparate topics: climate change and an archaic Senate procedural rule. But they have more in common than you might think. Thanks to the Senate filibuster rule, essentially any piece of legislation needs 60 votes, a super-majority, if it hopes to pass.

I've taken to writing with some frequency about the mainstream media's failure to cover climate change. Among the many reasons I do so is, well, because of the mainstream media's persistent and rather abhorrent failure to cover climate change. Make sense? Thought so. And while I did dole out some blame to the media for helping to kill the climate bill, I feel that the subject warrants a post of its own.

Soot from vehicle exhaust, power generation and burning biomass is the second most important contributor to global warming.

Image credit: The Sierra Club/Flickr

This guest post was contributed by Robert Redford.

A small minority of Senators robbed America of a cleaner, more prosperous future last week.

Though Manhattan experiences similar daytime temperatures to surrounding areas, it simply doesn't cool off nearly as much at night.

Photo via the Wall Street Journal

The future of climate policy is very much up in the air right now.

Image via Project Groundswell

This shouldn't come as much of a surprise if you've been following any climate related news this year -- we've already seen the hottest global averages ever recorded for April, May, and June, and the hottest Jan.-June period as well.

Photo by Donald Q

The American Pika was denied status as an endangered species as of February, but despite its lack of protection by the Endangered Species Act, it could serve as a perfect example for how endangered species can be used as a tool for strong

Photo via Foreign Policy

I've already done my fair share of helping to direct the blame at those who helped kill the climate bill (these 7 were responsible, by my reckoning).

photo: Woodley Wonderworks via flickr

Still think last year's heavy snows in parts of the eastern United States were a sign that the world isn't warming?