Obama to announce new pollution targets for power plants
The US government is due to give details about its plan to cut carbon emissions from fossil fuel power stations. This will be one of the most significant actions to try to reduce global warming in US history.
Reporter: Beth McLeod
Report
<link type="page"><caption> </caption><url href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2014/06/140602_witn_obama_emissions.shtml" platform="highweb"/></link><link type="page"><caption> Listen to the report</caption><url href="http://http-ws.bbc.co.uk.edgesuite.net/mp3/learningenglish/2014/06/140602_witn_emissions_report_140602_witn_obama_emissions_report_au_bb.mp3" platform="highweb"/></link>
The United States produces more greenhouse gases than any country in the world, apart from China.
The plan to curb emissions from fossil-fuelled power plants is the most ambitious measure proposed by President Obama in his efforts to tackle climate change.
The details of the plan will be laid out by the Environmental Protection Agency.
It will give broad flexibility to states to decide how to meet carbon reduction targets, whether by closing coal-fired power stations and switching to cleaner sources of energy, or by creating cap-and-trade schemes.
Some US media are reporting that by 2030 the government wants a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Business groups and Republicans fiercely oppose the new regulations, and say they're likely to drive up electricity prices.
But for the president the measure is important for his environmental legacy and in order to show global leadership on climate change.
Listen
<link type="page"><caption> </caption><url href="http://http-ws.bbc.co.uk.edgesuite.net/mp3/learningenglish/2014/06/140602_witn_emissions_report_140602_witn_obama_emissions_report_au_bb.mp3" platform="highweb"/></link><link type="page"><caption> </caption><url href="http://http-ws.bbc.co.uk.edgesuite.net/mp3/learningenglish/2014/06/140602_witn_emissions_words_140602_witn_obama_emissions_words_au_bb.mp3" platform="highweb"/></link><link type="page"><caption> Listen to the words</caption><url href="http://http-ws.bbc.co.uk.edgesuite.net/mp3/learningenglish/2014/06/140602_witn_emissions_words_140602_witn_obama_emissions_words_au_bb.mp3" platform="highweb"/></link>
curb: membatasi
fossil-fuelled: bahan bakar batu bara atau minyak
power plants: pembangkit listrik
ambitious: ambisius
tackle: mengatasi
targets: target, sasaran
fiercely oppose: menentang keras
drive up: meningkatkan
legacy: warisan
