Congress’ inability to address what may be the most significant issue of our time — climate change — has been discouraging to say the least, especially with a new Gallup poll this month showing that 65 percent of Americans believe climate change is caused by human activities and worry it will pose a serious threat in their lifetimes.

Yet, according to the Center for American Progress, a progressive policy institute, there are 182 climate change deniers in Congress. It reports that 59 percent of House Republicans deny climate change and 70 percent of Senate Republicans concur.

Our own Rep. Elise Stefanik campaigned on the “I’m not a scientist” platform when it came to climate change, but has since acknowledged it is a cause for concern. The Center for American Progress does not include her among the 182 deniers, but she has cast at least two yes votes on bills that would add to atmospheric pollution and make climate change worse.

It is obvious Congress will be of no help in solving this problem.

So we were encouraged Tuesday when New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman joined with attorney generals from across the nation to form an unprecedented state coalition committed to aggressively combating climate change.