The forecast in the nation's capital is clear and sunny, but that doesn't seem to matter to some environmental activists who've been busy building an ark -- as in "Noah's Ark" -- on the National Mall.
Some 2x4s, ply wood, hammers and nails were all used to create a smaller scale 21st century version of Noah's Ark under the shadow of the Capitol.
"I don't think Noah would be very happy with what we're doing. We're kind of butchering the idea of the ark and building our own version," said Oscar Ramirez of the AVAAZ DC Climate Action Factory.
Organizers say the ark is supposed to represent the potential flood of issues that could arise if world governments don't address climate change. Ironically, during the building of the arc it's been quite cold, but participants don't mind.
They say the prospect of climate catastrophes demand urgent action and are calling for the ongoing climate talks in Copenhagen to produce a real deal.
"[A deal] that's fair, ambitious and binding," Julie Erickson of AVAAZ DC Climate Action Factory added. "Not some empty political promise."
Energized by the recent email scandal questioning the science behind global warming, skeptics believe Congress won't pass a climate bill no matter what happens in Copenhagen.
"I have to say - and I know people don't believe this - but it's over," said GOP Sen. James Inhofe. "We're not going to have a cap. This thing has been going on since Kyoto 10 years ago."
Those who support climate change initiatives say what's at stake is increasing global temperatures, melting glaciers and possibly even the risk of another "great flood,"-- despite God's Old Testament covenant never to destroy the earth with a flood again.
Washington, D.C. Pastor Derrick harkins believes the threat really lies in man's mistreatment of God's creation.
"Even before you get to the theological discussion about whether or not there is a cataclysmic event that speaks to God's judgment, I think we still have a responsibility, again, to be good stewards of what God has given us," he said.
*Originally published December 11, 2009