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Obama lays out climate action plan Obama lays out climate action plan
(about 1 hour later)
US President Barack Obama has laid out a package of measures aimed at curbing climate change, including limits on emissions from power plants.US President Barack Obama has laid out a package of measures aimed at curbing climate change, including limits on emissions from power plants.
He also unveiled plans for an expansion of renewable energy projects, improved flood resilience and calls for an international climate deal.He also unveiled plans for an expansion of renewable energy projects, improved flood resilience and calls for an international climate deal.
The president was speaking at Georgetown University on Tuesday. Administration officials had earlier rejected the idea of a "carbon tax".
But administration officials have previously rejected any prospect of a "carbon tax". President Obama pledged in his inaugural address in January to act on climate change in his second term.
Tuesday's speech gave shape to the president's intentions - voiced in his inaugural address in January - to act on climate change in his second term.
'Moral obligation''Moral obligation'
President Obama told the audience at Georgetown University in Washington DC: "As a president, as a father and as an American, I am here to say we need to act." Speaking at Georgetown University in Washington DC, President Obama said: "As a president, as a father and as an American, I am here to say we need to act."
He said he refused to condemn future generations to a "planet that can't fix itself" and pledged to "lead the world in a co-ordinated assault on a changing climate". President Obama mocked critics who contend climate change is not a threat or deny its reality.
A statement released by the White House said: "While no single step can reverse the effects of climate change, we have a moral obligation to future generations to leave them a planet that is not polluted and damaged." "I don't have much patience for anyone who denies that this challenge is real," he said. "We don't have time for a meeting of the Flat Earth Society."
The statement further argued that climate change posed an immediate threat, with the 12 hottest years on record all occurring in the past 15 years. The president said climate change posed an immediate threat, with the 12 hottest years on record all occurring in the past 15 years.
Most of the strategy involves using President Obama's executive authority without congressional approval. He added: "While we may not live to see the full realisation of our ambition, we will have the satisfaction of knowing that the world we leave to our children will be better off for what we did."
But other parts of the plan look likely to face political opposition and legal challenges. Most of the president's agenda can be executed without congressional approval, but some issues are likely to face opposition.
The US House of Representatives is dominated by Republicans, and the chamber's Speaker, John Boehner, has called the plans "absolutely crazy". The top Republican in Congress, House Speaker John Boehner, has called the plans "absolutely crazy".
Speaking last week, he told reporters: "Why would you want to increase the cost of energy and kill more American jobs at a time when the American people are still asking the question, where are the jobs?" On Tuesday, the president reaffirmed his 2009 commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade.
The president has reaffirmed his 2009 commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by the end of the decade. Critics say these reductions are too modest, and less aggressive than European Union targets.
But critics say these reductions fall short of the action needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change and are less aggressive than European Union targets. The plan includes the first-ever limits on carbon emissions from new and existing power plants. These are the single biggest source of carbon pollution, accounting for a third of US greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of its carbon output.
The centrepiece of the plan is a memorandum to launch the first-ever limits on carbon emissions from new and existing power plants. These are the single biggest source of carbon pollution, accounting for a third of US greenhouse gas emissions and 40% of its carbon output.
But it remains unclear how strict these limits will be.But it remains unclear how strict these limits will be.
Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed regulating emissions from new power plants, but that plan was delayed.Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed regulating emissions from new power plants, but that plan was delayed.
Seven US governors have already written to President Obama, calling on him to abandon this proposal, which they say would "effectively shutter" coal-fired power plants and prevent the construction of new ones. Seven US governors have asked President Obama to abandon this proposal, which they say would "effectively shutter" coal-fired power plants and prevent the construction of new ones.
Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said imposing carbon rules on power plants amounted to a national energy tax. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said imposing carbon rules on power plants amounted to a "war on coal".
"Will the president explain the massive costs to American jobs? Will the president explain how low-income Americans would pay for their new, higher utility bills?" he told the AP news agency. "This is a huge step in the wrong direction, particularly in the middle of the most tepid recovery after a deep recession in anyone's memory," Mr McConnell said.
President Obama is also calling for an end to US support for public financing of new coal-fired plants abroad, officials said. President Obama also called for the US to stop supporting new coal-fired plants abroad.
But his plan would exempt plants in the poorest nations if the cleanest technology available in those countries is being used. His plan would exempt plants in the poorest nations if the cleanest technology available in those countries is being used.
Pipeline challengePipeline challenge
He also plans an expansion of solar and wind energy projects on public lands, with the aim of generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of six million homes by 2020. He also set higher goals for renewables installed at federal housing projects. President Obama called for more solar and wind energy projects on public lands, with the aim of powering the equivalent of six million homes by 2020. He also set higher goals for renewable energy at federal housing projects.
In addition, he announced $8bn (£5bn) in federal loan guarantees to spur investment in green technologies.In addition, he announced $8bn (£5bn) in federal loan guarantees to spur investment in green technologies.
Observers had expected the president to sidestep the issue of the $7bn, 1,700 mile (2,700km) Keystone XL pipeline, meant to bring heavy crude from the tar sands of Alberta in Canada to the refineries of Texas. President Obama also broached the subject of the $7bn, 1,700 mile (2,700km) Keystone XL pipeline, meant to bring heavy crude from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada to the refineries of Texas, saying it should only proceed if it was in the nation's interest.
But President Obama did broach the subject, saying that the pipeline would only be allowed to go ahead if it was in the nation's interest.
"The net effects of the pipeline's impact on the climate will be absolutely critical to deciding whether this project goes forward," he said."The net effects of the pipeline's impact on the climate will be absolutely critical to deciding whether this project goes forward," he said.
The project is currently being reviewed by the US state department, with a decision not likely to come before the autumn. Backed by industry and labour unions but staunchly opposed by green campaigners, Keystone XL has turned into one of the biggest environmental challenges of the president's time in office.
Backed by industry and labour unions, but staunchly opposed by green campaigners, it has turned into one of the biggest environmental challenges of the president's time in office. Saleemul Huq, senior fellow at the International Institute for Environment and Development, said the plan was "too little too late".
Mr Obama's plan also outlines stricter efficiency standards on electrical appliances and buildings.
Saleemul Huq, senior fellow at the International Institute for Environment and Development, said it was "too little too late".
"While it is good to see a leader of the world's richest country and biggest cumulative polluter finally promise to take actions," he said, "after over a decade of refusal to do so, the problem has become much bigger while the US was ignoring it.""While it is good to see a leader of the world's richest country and biggest cumulative polluter finally promise to take actions," he said, "after over a decade of refusal to do so, the problem has become much bigger while the US was ignoring it."
Paul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on TwitterPaul.Rincon-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter