Last night after midnight, the U.S. Senate voted to improve fuel efficiency standards, a major step forward in the fight to solve global warming.

The nation's energy plan was long overdue for a tune up. America's fuel efficiency standards for cars and SUVs haven't been updated since the era of the eight track tape player. Meanwhile, our dependence on oil has been squeezing our wallets and choking our skies with pollution, contributing one-third of the carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming.

We are in a race to protect wildlife, and the planet as a whole, for our children. Scientists are warning that we are running out of time to cut back on the global warming pollution we are pumping into the atmosphere. This bipartisan vote helps put our country on the right track. Now it's up to the House of Representatives and the President to support the Senate's action, so that these mileage standards become law.

Ultimately, Congress needs to limit global warming pollution from all major sources, including power plants, in order to achieve the goal of cutting emissions by at least two percent every year, and a total of 80 percent by mid-century. That's the rate of cuts scientists say is necessary to avoid global warming's most catastrophic effects.