US plans to reduce power plant greenhouse gases 30% by 2030

The US government has rolled out a plan to cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 30% by 2030, a centrepiece of President Barack Obama’s efforts to reduce the pollution linked to global warming.

The rule, expected to be final next year, sets in motion one of the most significant actions on global warming in US history. The Obama administration hopes the step will get other countries to act when negotiations on a new international treaty resume next year.

Power plants are the largest source of greenhouse gases in the US, accounting for about a third of the annual emissions that make the country the second largest contributor to global warming.