In this talk, former Senator Timothy Wirth will discuss why the U.S. is uniquely poised to lead a global initiative on policy development that realistically addresses the need for adaptive, resilient, and sustainable systems. To catalyze this initiative, the U.N. Foundation and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research are engaging scientists, researchers, and U.S. citizens in meaningful dialogue about possible responses to the global threat of climate change. Wirth was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986, where he focused on environmental issues, particularly global climate change and population stabilization. Following two decades of elected politics, Wirth served as national co-chair of the Clinton-Gore campaign and, from 1993 to 1997 as the first Undersecretary for Global Affairs in the U.S. State Department.