Global warming: US formally pledges to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 28 per cent
Plan is part of global effort to combat climate change
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2015/03/19/18/obama.jpg)
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
![Louise Thomas](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/louise-thomas.png)
Louise Thomas
Editor
The US government has formally submitted a plan to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 28 per cent by 2025 as part of a global effort to combat global warming.
President Barack Obama on Tuesday submitted the US plan, which will be joined by proposals from some 200 other nations that are set to convene in Paris in December to work out how to slow rising temperatures.
The president’s emission-reduction plan comes two weeks after he issued an executive order to cut government emissions of greenhouse gases by 40 per cent by 2025.
With Tuesday’s submission, the US joins a handful of other nations that already have submitted their plans. The European Union, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland and Russia all have released formal plans to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Tuesday was an informal deadline for major world economies nations to submit emissions plans ahead of the December meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The goal of the UN conference is to get a binding agreement from all nations of the world to limit global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
The planned cuts in US greenhouse gas emissions – widely blamed by scientists for increased global temperatures – reportedly will be achieved by reducing power-plant emissions, boosting vehicle fuel efficiency and improving buildings standards.
US officials said they hope a formal plan for reducing greenhouse gases will prompt other countries to set similar targets. Several developed countries – including Australia and Canada – have yet to submit plans.
Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments