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UP FRONTWednesday 2 December

In slap at Obama, US House Obama pushes climate agenda in Paris

moves to block climate rule KARL RITTER “Although the targets targets.”
Associated Press themselves may not have “The fact that the United
MATTHEW DALY PARIS (AP) — President the force of treaties, the States of America could
Associated Press Barack Obama said Tues- process, the procedures commit to a binding agree-
WASHINGTON (AP) — As President Barack Obama day that parts of the global that ensure transparency ment whilst before there
worked to hammer out a global climate agreement warming deal being ne- and periodic reviews, that was a doubt because of
in Paris, Republicans in Congress moved to block his gotiated in Paris should be needs to be legally bind- Congress, is really extraor-
plan to force steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions legally binding on the par- ing,” Obama said in Paris, dinary news that comes at
from U.S. power plants. ticipating countries, setting “and that’s going to be a good time,” French Envi-
The House passed two resolutions Tuesday disapprov- up a potential fight with Re- critical.” ronment Minister Segolene
ing Obama’s power-plant rules and rendering them publicans at home. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Royal said.
inoperative. A measure blocking an Environmental Obama’s stand won praise chairman of the Senate Senate Majority Leader
Protection Agency rule for existing power plants was
approved 242-180, while a measure blocking a rule U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference at the Organization for
on future power plants was approved 235-188.
The votes come after the Senate approved identi- Economic Cooperation and Development Centre, in Paris, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. Obama
cal motions last month under a little-used law that al-
lows Congress to block executive actions it considers discussed the COP21 climate change summit, and the threat of terrorism from the Islamic State
onerous. The measures now go to the White House,
where they face almost-certain vetoes. Group. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Rep. Ed Whitfield, a Republican, said party lawmak-
ers were forcing a vote on the climate rule to “send at the U.N. climate con- Environment and Public Mitch McConnell and other
a message to the climate conference in Paris that in ference from those who Republican leaders have
America, there’s serious disagreement with the poli- want a strong agreement Works Committee and a warned other countries not
cies of this president.” to reduce greenhouse gas to trust any deal Obama
House Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy emissions from the burning fierce critic of Obama’s may strike. Other GOP poli-
said Obama wants to reduce carbon emissions, but of coal, oil and gas. But it ticians are working to nullify
his policies will kill jobs, increase electricity costs and could rile conservatives in policies, fired back imme- Obama’s emissions-cutting
decrease the reliability of the U.S. energy supply. Washington, especially if steps at home.
And Rep. Jeff Duncan, a Republican said he wished he tries to put the deal into diately. The Republican-led House
Obama took the threat posed by “radical jihadists” effect without seeking con- was scheduled to vote
such as the Islamic State as seriously as he takes what gressional approval. “The U.S. Senate will not be Tuesday afternoon on
Duncan called a “pseudoscientific threat” posed The Obama administration whether to strike down
by climate change. Democrats countered that the has pledged during the ignored. If the president federal rules reducing car-
power-plant rules were important steps to slow glob- international talks to re- bon emissions from power
al climate change that is already causing real harm duce U.S. emissions by up wishes to sign the Ameri- plants.
through increased droughts, wildfires, floods and to 28 percent by 2025. But At a news conference,
more severe storms. Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democrat, inscribing the emissions tar- can people up to a legally House Speaker Paul Ryan
said it was regrettable that Republicans were try- get in the Paris deal would was asked whether Con-
ing to block the power-plant rules even as officials probably require Obama binding agreement, the gress was out of step with
from more than 190 nearly countries and many of the to submit the pact to Con- public opinion on climate
world’s largest private companies gathered in Paris gress, where it would be deal must go through the change.
to work out details of a global agreement to reduce unlikely to win ratification. “I don’t think we’re out of
greenhouse gas emissions. The global agreement Many Republicans doubt Senate,” he said in a state- step with public opinion
“will prevent us from further overheating the earth global warming is real or wanting jobs, wanting eco-
and causing major disruptions to people’s lives, their fear that stringent pollution ment. “There is no way nomic growth, weighing
property and to the global economy,” Pallone said. controls could kill jobs. the costs and the benefits,”
“We know that (climate change) will endanger our So the administration is around it.” Ryan said. “I think when
children’s future if we don’t act now.” looking to keep the targets you weigh the costs and
The new rules being imposed by the Obama admin- out while including binding The White House previously the benefits against these
istration require states to cut carbon emissions by 32 procedures on when and so-called legally binding
percent by 2030, based on emissions in 2005. Each how countries should re- said parts of the deal should obligations, they don’t add
state has a customized target and is responsible for view their targets and raise up. I think it’s very clear
drawing up an effective plan to meet its goal. them if possible. be legally binding, but this people want jobs.”q
The EPA says it has authority to enact the plan under
the Clean Air Act. is the first time Obama has
The Republicans challenged the administration’s ac-
tion under the little-used Congressional Review Act, said it himself and spelled
which allows Congress to block executive actions
with simple majority votes. The maneuver is subject out which ones.
to a presidential veto and has rarely been successful.
The White House issued a veto threat last month, say- Obama’s comments
ing the resolutions undermine public health protec-
tions of the Clean Air Act and “stop critical U.S. efforts brought relief to the French
to reduce dangerous carbon pollution from power
plants.” Speaking in Paris Tuesday, Obama said parts hosts of the conference,
of a global climate agreement should be legally
binding. His declaration was both a boost to climate who were worried about
negotiators seeking a tough accord and a challenge
to Republicans in Congress, many of whom reject the whether theU.S. wanted
idea of global warming.q
a binding deal at all after

Secretary of State John

Kerry told The Financial

Times that the agreement

was “definitely not going

to be a treaty” and that

there was “not going to be

legally binding reduction