President George W. Bush said today he planned no new action to impose caps on greenhouse gases blamed for global warming despite the US Supreme Court ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency must regulate emissions.
Instead, Mr Bush pointed to his proposal to require cars to burn more gasoline made from home-grown sources like ethanol, and repeated his long-held stance that US action is meaningless without changes by China and India.
"My attitude is that we have laid out a plan that will affect greenhouse gases that come from automobiles by having a mandatory fuel standard," Mr Bush said.
"In other words, there is a remedy available for Congress. And I strongly hope that they pass this remedy quickly."
Mr Bush spoke after the highest US court ruled yesterday that the Environmental Protection Agency must reconsider its 2003 refusal to regulate carbon-dioxide emissions from new cars and trucks that contribute to climate change.
Mr Bush said the 5-4 decision, with both of the president's conservative nominees voting in opposition, was "the new law of the land."
The ruling could have its greatest effect in the US Congress, which is considering legislation that would impose first-ever caps on US carbon dioxide emissions.