Danny Musher, a student from Bethesda, Md., questions Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse yesterday on global warming.

The Providence Journal / Bill Murphy

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse spoke to a packed auditorium at Brown University yesterday about global warming challenges that lie ahead and urged voters to elect a president that will lead the nation, and complement the Democratic majority in Congress, in pushing more progressive legislation to slow the effects of climate change.

Whitehouse criticized the Bush administration and the Environmental Protection Agency for what he said were their inadequate efforts to address the nation’s environmental issues, referencing the agency’s decision rejecting states’ rights to set their own vehicle emission standards.

Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said he has cosponsored legislation that would allow states to regulate vehicle emissions.

Another piece of important legislation, America’s Climate Security Act of 2007, also known as the Lieberman-Warner bill, is still being reviewed in Senate committees. A significant part of the pending legislation is the establishment of a “cap and trade” system of setting limits on industrial and commercial greenhouse gas emissions.

Scientists say the world needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 to avoid the worst consequences of global warming.

Repeating the mantra of frustrated environmental advocates across the world, Whitehouse told a supportive audience that President Bush should “lead or get out of the way.”

Whitehouse said he has seen the evidence of rising temperatures locally.

The senator said he was alarmed to see the cherry tree at his Providence home bloom in January, and expressed concern over the warming of Narragansett Bay, and how even just one degree can throw the delicate ocean ecosystem off balance, often with dire consequences.

“The Bay’s annual mean winter temperature has increased about 4 degrees Fahrenheit in the last 20 years,” Whitehouse said. “Cold-water species, such as winter flounder, that were once abundant in the Bay and had high commercial values are being replaced by warmer-water species, such as scup, that have a lower value.”

Whitehouse’s speech at Brown was the university’s first event of the global warming awareness campaign called Focus the Nation — a national effort to educate the public, especially college students, about the dangers posed by unchecked climate change and to push legislative efforts that curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Other universities in the state, including the University of Rhode Island and Johnson & Wales University, are participating in the effort by hosting screenings of informational videos and asking teachers to stress the link between their areas of expertise to climate change during their classes.

Whitehouse congratulated Brown University for taking steps to reduce its carbon footprint over the years. Last week, it announced a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42 percent of last year’s levels by 2020 for existing buildings and up to 50 percent for new or acquired facilities.

All new construction must receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S Green Building Council, which requires the incorporation of environmentally sustainable practices from the selection of building materials to energy efficiency.

The measures could prove to be significant from an environmental and financial perspective, with Brown spending almost $20 million a year on energy.

Other Focus the Nation events this week include:

•At Brown:

“Religion and the Environment: An Interfaith Discussion”: a panel discussion. Today 4:30 p.m., List 110.

“Emerging Economies and Climate Change”: a panel discussion. Today 8 p.m., List 110.

“Climate Change in the Media” with Paran Quigley, Wednesday 4 p.m., List 110

Screening of the “The 2% Solution” with Stanford University climate scientist Stephen Schneider, Natural Capitalism president Hunter Lovins and environmental justice leader Van Jones. Wednesday 7:30 p.m., Smitty-B 201.

“Rapid-fire Symposium: Energy”: the Environmental Change Initiative presents energy research and project opportunities

“Kilowatt Ours”: A film about the dangers of America’s carbon-based economy and solutions for the future. Thursday 7:30 p.m., Hunter Lab, Carmichael Auditorium.

Green fair with Brown student groups, including carbon offset information and a light bulb exchange. Friday noon to 4 p.m., Sayles Hall

• At URI’s Kingston campus:

Screening of “The 2% Solution” Wednesday 7:30 p.m. Memorial Union, Atrium 2; Coastal Institute, Weaver Auditorium, and Rodman Hall, Room 207

Participation in a live video conference with Congress about campus solutions to global warming.

• At Johnson & Wales University:

Speech by environmental journalist Dan Grossman. Wednesday 11:30 a.m., Xavier Auditorium

• At Providence College:

Screening of the “The 2% Solution” Wednesday 8 p.m., Slavin Center, Room 64

• At Bryant University:

Science and technology faculty will screen one of two documentaries: “The Great Warming: The Signs and the Science” or “Everything’s Cool” in their classes followed by discussion.

Nationwide, more than 1,600 institutions have signed up to host Focus the Nation events.

ngarcia@projo.com