The July 12 front-page article "Climate debate unmoved by spill" needs clarification.

While The Post's poll numbers show a slight decline in public support for clean-energy policy since June 2009, this support has consistently remained above 50 percent in the past year -- a remarkable number given the hundreds of millions of advertising dollars the energy industry and big oil have spent in their relentless effort to keep America addicted to their dirty fuels.

The momentum is growing to create more clean energy and to end offshore drilling. The writers listed three Sierra Club events showing this trend, in which more than 100,000 people participated.

These unified citizens merely reflect the vastly greater number of Americans who want action now to stop climate change.

It's time for Congress and the administration to listen to the American people. We want a clean-energy economy that boosts growth, creates good jobs and fights the causes of climate disruption.

Michael Brune, San Francisco

The writer is executive director of the Sierra Club.

--

The Senate has not acted on global warming for several reasons, but not because of scant public approval. Contrary to the July 12 front-page story, public support for action on climate change remains strong. The Post's own June poll found that 71 percent favor action to "regulate the release of greenhouse gases" -- an increase since your poll in December. Americans clearly want investments in clean-energy jobs and to slash climate pollution. Whether 60 senators listen, or 41 follow big oil, is the real question.