Sharp, who once chaired the Energy and Power subcommittee of the House of Representatives, said environmentalism rather than racism is America's largest challenge.

"We must find a way to balance our insatiable desire for goods with the necessity of having an environment that is healthy," Sharp said.

The panelists also fielded questions from audience members about current issues facing the government.

One student asked whether paying reparations for slavery is a good idea. Most of the respondents seemed opposed.

"There are steps that we could take to move forward, but I don't believe that is part of that," Kennedy said.

Ifill, the moderator, added that the debate currently underway is not truly about reparations, which she said are unlikely to come about.

Instead, she said, the real issue is free speech on campuses, and whether the debate should even be allowed.

A British woman visiting the U.S. also asked about the Kyoto protocol, which the Senate rejected early this year, and about President Bush's environmental policy.