United States President Barack Obama has released a new Climate Action Plan to reduce carbon pollution by at least three billion tonnes by 2030.
After the Republican-controlled Congress blocked a national emissions trading scheme in the US, the President has used his executive power to take action on climate change.
Australia's Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, welcomed the announcement and said it is an important contribution to global efforts to tackle climate change.
Like Australia’s Clean Energy Future plan, the Climate Action Plan includes measures to support renewables, energy efficiency and long-term investment in clean energy innovation.
The plan also leverages "new opportunities" to reduce pollution from hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent greenhouse gases used in air conditioning and refrigerators.
Internationally, the plan commits to expanding bilateral agreements with China, India, and other major emitting countries.
"As President Obama has said, climate change is too important for political leaders to indulge in scare campaigns and Flat Earth Society meetings," Combet said.
The Action Plan follows another significant international development last week, when China, the world's largest emitter, launched its first emissions trading scheme for the city of Shenzen.
The Open-Ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer are carrently meeting in Bangkok, Thailand from June 24-28, 2013.
The Climate and Clean Air Coalition are also meeting in Thailand from June 29-30, 2013, to address a broad range of issues around the use of HFCs.
