With the Waxman-Markey discussion draft, "The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009" now going before Congress, the Obama Administration has released a timely report on climate change, designed to warn Americans about the dangers of not acting.

It's politically loaded and as Kate Sheppard writes in Grist, it's designed to rally support behind the legislation. "Sources close to the process affirmed that Tuesday's release is part of a coordinated effort to rally support for the ACES legislation,'' Sheppard writes. "The administration is making sure that the document gets to key members of Congress. Report authors confirmed to Grist that they began holding briefings on the assessment on Capitol Hill on Monday and will continue the briefings throughout the week ... At the same time, administration officials said they aren't using the document as a policy prescription, but more as an impetus to action in general."

Politically loaded as it is, the report is worth reading, even if it's stating the bleeding obvious.

It warns us to expect more heat related deaths, more flooding, especially along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, Pacific Islands, and parts of Alaska and of potential impacts on such industries as insurance. Nothing we didn't know already. What's significant is that this is a major US Government document that spells it out so clearly. After years of inaction and incompetence from the Bush administration, it's a massive change.

Still, as compelling as the report may be, the administration has its work cut out getting this legislation through. Business will lobby to kill the legislation. As the Center for Public Integrity reports, 140 businesses and organizations led by manufacturers, power companies, and the oil and gas industry have been lobbying on climate change and Congress has shown itself to be a captive of lobbyists for industries and major companies.

NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco told the media the report was a "game-changer". The lobbyists would say otherwise.