WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsClimate Crisis Vigil held at the Capitol

Climate Crisis Vigil held at the Capitol

MADISON (WKOW) -- Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle will begin five days at the global climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Locally, a handful of environmental groups made their voices known on the issue.

"The U.S. has historically been a world leader, and unfortunately, we haven't led on climate change, and because of that, the rest of the world has been waiting on us," said Katy Walter with Clean Wisconsin and 1Sky Madison.

Walter was among the two dozen or so who took part in a 'Climate Crisis Vigil' at the Capitol at noon Saturday. Similar rallies were held across the nation.

They asked for a fully global treaty to drastically cut carbon-based emissions. Afterward, they went to Memorial Union to write letters to the editor and make calls to the offices of Wisconsin's two democratic U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl.

The talks in Copenhagen continue through next week. Meanwhile, the U.S. House earlier this year passed a climate bill. The Senate is still considering one.

Online reporting by Carl Agnelly.

Follow Carl Agnelly on Twitter @agnelly_WKOW