US plans 30pc cuts in power carbon emissions

The United States on Monday proposed ordering cuts of up to 30 percent in carbon emissions from power plants in President Barack Obama's most ambitious action yet on climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency laid out a proposal that would let states choose ways to meet the goal of lowering emissions by an average of 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Power plants account for some 40 percent of US emissions of carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Cuts are politically sensitive as coal, among the dirtiest energy sources, remains a major US industry. The move comes amid mounting signs of climate change. A UN panel of scientists warned in April that polluters needed to act urgently to avoid worst-case scenarios, which could include increased droughts, storms and coastline destruction, according to AFP.