Obama administration agrees that industrialized nations should reduce greenhouse gas emissions

October 6th, 2009 Obama: Government to set global warming exampleWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama wants the federal government to set the example when it comes to global warming. In an executive order signed Monday, Obama required all agencies to do what he wants companies operating power plants, running refineries and making automobiles to do: reduce heat-trapping gases.

October 5th, 2009 Obama puts government on greenhouse-gas dietWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is putting the federal government on a greenhouse-gas diet. In an executive order signed Monday, Obama directed all agencies to set the first-ever targets for reducing climate-altering pollution from government buildings, fleets and federal workers' commutes.

September 30th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Democrats introduced ambitious climate-change legislation Wednesday in the Senate with the goal of reducin greenhouse-gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels, a larger reduction than the 17-percent approved in June by the House. The bill introduced by Democratic Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer outlines a plan to curb toxic emissions by creating a market for companies to buy and sell pollution permits.

September 26th, 2009 Climate activists in Copenhagen protest coal useCOPENHAGEN — Hundreds of climate activists protested Saturday against the use of fossil fuels, but were blocked from entering a coal-firing plant they had hoped to shut down by chaining themselves to conveyor belts. Police held back the 1,500 or so protesters from entering the coal- and oil-fueled Amagervaerket power station on Copenhagen's Amager Island, police spokesman Flemming Steen Munch said.

September 22nd, 2009 NEW YORK - US President Barack Obama Tuesday promised a serious US effort to curb greenhouse-gas emissions that cause climate change and called on all major polluters to make concessions to reach a new global climate treaty. In a speech at the start of a one-day climate summit at UN headquarters in New York, Obama acknowledged the US has been slow to respond to global warming in the past.

September 22nd, 2009 Japanese PM pledges deep greenhouse cutsUNITED NATIONS — Japan's new prime minister is pledging a deep cut in greenhouse gases blamed for climate change. Yukio Hatoyama told world leaders gathered Tuesday a United Nations climate change summit that his nation aims to make a 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.

September 10th, 2009 EU steps up efforts for new global climate pactCOPENHAGEN — Fearing that a possible global deal on climate change is in danger, European foreign ministers announced Thursday they were stepping up efforts to make sure that nations around the world face up to global warming. Five EU foreign ministers have been traveling to European capitals for the last week to press the issue — and now they are taking the case for tackling climate change to other world capitals.

September 8th, 2009 EU welcomes Japan climate planBRUSSELS — The European Union is welcoming plans by Japan's incoming prime minister to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020. EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said Tuesday the proposal is "really very encouraging" for those trying to negotiate a new global climate change pact.

September 8th, 2009 UK: Global deal on climate change at riskLONDON — Two British Cabinet ministers said Tuesday that attempts to broker a new global pact on climate change by the end of the year are at risk of failing. Hopes for an agreement being reached at a United Nations summit in December "hang in the balance," undermined by a climate of suspicion between rich and poor countries, said Foreign Secretary David Miliband, speaking at a press conference with his brother, Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband.

September 7th, 2009 Japan's likely next PM pledges big emissions cutTOKYO — The man expected to become Japan's next prime minister said Monday his government will follow through on a campaign pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020. It is a more aggressive goal than the previous administration's, which would have only cut emissions by about 8 percent from 1990 levels.

August 10th, 2009 New Zealand sets greenhouse gas emissions targetWELLINGTON, New Zealand —New Zealand announced on Monday that it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 10 to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, the country's climate change minister said. The target, confirmed by the Cabinet, will be presented later Monday at an international climate change meeting in Bonn, Germany, Nick Smith said.

June 26th, 2009 EU: we want US climate bill to succeedBRUSSELS — The Europe Union wants a U.S. climate change bill to succeed so the United States can move swiftly to curb greenhouse gas emissions, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Friday.

June 3rd, 2009 US role in new climate treaty hinges on ChinaWASHINGTON — The United States is not likely to enter into a new international treaty to reduce the emissions blamed for global warming without China and other major greenhouse-gas emitters on board, the Obama administration's chief climate negotiator said Wednesday. U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern told reporters in a conference call that China and other major developing countries are critical to making any international agreement work, and there is not going to be a new treaty to curb greenhouse gases without them.

May 6th, 2009 US submits first plan for new UN climate treatyUNITED NATIONS — In a major shift, the United States committed itself to reaching agreement on a new global climate treaty this year and told the U.N. it wants strong targets for cutting greenhouse gases as long as other heavily polluting nations do their part.

April 23rd, 2009 Calif. expected to adopt low-carbon fuel rulesSACRAMENTO — California air regulators are considering first-in-the nation rules to require low-carbon fuels as part of the state's wider effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The California Air Resources Board on Thursday is expected to adopt standards that could serve as a template for a national policy.