CLIMATE | 27.06.2009

Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes US landmark bill to limit emissions

The bill must still be scrutinized by the US Senate

The US House of Representatives has narrowly approved an historic climate change bill that for the first time would force US companies to limit greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

The 219-212 vote marks a major victory for President Barack Obama, who has made global warming and clean energy legislation a top priority of his administration.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who met with Obama earlier Friday at the White House, backed the House bill as "an enormous success, which I would not have thought possible a year ago."

But the legislation has deeply divided US politicians, businesses and even climate groups. The outcome of the House vote was uncertain to the very last minute: Only eight Republicans voted in favor and 43 Democrats voted against the measure.

The bill now moves to the Senate, which could have an even tougher time getting the measure passed. Groups on both sides have vowed to continue pushing for changes as the legislation makes its way through the US Congress.

The United States, which together with China emits about half of the world's greenhouse gases, has long faced pressure from other governments to more aggressively reduce its carbon footprint.

The mandatory emissions curbs approved Friday were long resisted by former president George W. Bush.

Obama hopes a cap-and-trade system will cut US emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels - about 7 percent below 1990 levels - by 2020, and nearly 80 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.

The Obama administration also hopes the bill will bolster the country's bargaining position at a critical meeting in Copenhagen in December, where governments are expected to thrash out a new global treaty to combat climate change.

dfm/dpa/AFP
Editor: Mark Hallam -dw