One of the ways to bring the effects of global warming to the attention of the American people is to put a human face on it, says U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D- N.Y.).

'For most people, it's those human stories,' Rodham Clinton told reporters at a press briefing this morning in Whitehorse. 'It's the impacts on the lives of those human beings that they want to hear about.'

An American delegation led by Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) was in the Yukon on Monday and this morning to explore the impacts of climate change on the territory.

Yesterday, the four senators flew over the Alligator ice patch and spruce bark beetle-infested areas of the Kluane region. They also visited the traditional fishing camp of Klukshu Village to speak with first nation elders.

'It's one thing to look at it from an academic point of view and say on the one hand this on the other hand that,' said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

'It's another thing to have people talk to you who have been up here for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years to tell you that their life has changed and it's changing for the worse. The reality of the problem has been made clear to me through this experience.'

Rodham Clinton agreed, saying it is important not just to look at the issue through scientific lens, but to allow people to understand it in a way the can see, touch and feel. She said she felt the visit to the Yukon had provided that opportunity.

'We're trying to stress the importance of our country, not just our government, but our people of recognizing the challenges,' she said.

'Canada is not very far away from where we live. It might be a little bit easier to grasp some of the changes that are happening right here on our continent.'

The visiting senators are believers in climate change despite the division in the United States on whether global warming is actually caused by human activity.

McCain is the co-author of an American bill aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

'There are still members of the administration and the Congress that are convinced it's all a myth. How you rationalize that argument, I cannot explain,' said McCain.

However, climate change should not be a partisan issue, said Rodham Clinton.

'It's not about ideology. It's about science and facts and evidence,' she said, adding,'More and more people regardless of their political background are saying this is a problem we have to address.'

A resolution was passed recently in the U.S Senate that acknowledges, and puts on the record, senators do believe climate change is real and steps need to be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

'So we're making progress,' said McCain. 'The question is how late it is when we decide to act. The damage is being inflicted as we speak.

'This is the miner's canary of the globe. How serious the damages will be and how much it's going to take to repair it? That's the tragedy of this.'

The recently-released Arctic Climate Impact Assessment reported that the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world and that the western Arctic will likely experience the changes faster than any other sub-Arctic region.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Me.) said she was amazed at the clear evidence of the devastation of climate change while the delegation flew over beetle kill areas.

The delegation has travelled to other Arctic regions around the world, including Norway and Iceland. However, Rodham Clinton indicated that the impacts are even more apparent in North America.

'We're very impressed with what's being done here in Canada, with the consensus that's been reached and with the commitment of all levels of government and all different people to begin to address this,' she said.

All of the senators indicated the hope of being able to bring the issue back to the United States for further constructive debate.

However, they also expressed concern about the impacts of solutions to climate change.

'We live in a global economy, as well as a global environment,' said Graham.

The economic impacts of climate change solutions could be devastating for regions of the United States, when countries such as China and India also are not on board in working toward emission reductions, he said.

'Without China or India being involved, I think we are going backwards. I think we need a comprehensive approach. Not just the United States and Canada, but the whole world dealing with this problem in a way that we can afford.'

Collins agreed.

'The job can't been accomplished by our country alone. In addition to domestic policies, I believe the United States needs to work on some sort of successor agreement to Kyoto. Without the participation of China, we will not be able to get the lowering of emissions.'

McCain said the United States may be able to consider re-entry into the Kyoto accord if China and India, two other culprits of major emissions, were to also included.

In the meantime, there will be continued exploration of the possibility of cleaner technologies and solutions, he said.

'This administration has spent more money on research and technology in the area of global warming, environmental change than any other administration in the history of the United States,' David Wilkins, the American Ambassador to Canada, told reporters on Monday in Whitehorse. The United States administration does take the issue seriously, he added.

'We are trying to foster the debate and make sure we can find ways to make this transition to cleaner technologies and reduce greenhouse gas emissions without severe economic dislocations,' added McCain. 'That is one of our major challenges.'

The senators also met with Premier Dennis Fentie; Ethel Andrew-Blondin, the federal Minister of State for Northern Development; and Andy Carvill, grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations to discuss climate change in the North.

The delegation left Whitehorse this morning to continue their northern tour with a visit to Alaska.