White House boasts progress on climate agenda

The White House said Wednesday it has made “real progress” in achieving pieces of President Obama’s climate change plan unveiled one year ago.

The administration issued the 15-page progress report Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of Obama’s climate plan.

{mosads}”Already, the administration has announced new efficiency standards, permitted renewable energy projects on public lands, and proposed carbon pollution standards for new and existing power plants. Alongside our State, Tribal, local, and private sector partners, we are taking steps to make our communities more resilient to the effects of severe weather; and we are working with other countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases internationally,” the report states.

It adds that Obama “remains firmly committed to achieving” the goals in his climate plan.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said at an event marking the anniversary Wednesday that the administration “has picked up the pace” on its climate initiatives.

Moniz added that right now the administration and U.S. is in an “absolutely critical period on the road to Paris.”

Next year the U.S. will be a key player in the United Nation’s climate talks. Roughly 120 countries hope to sign a pact on global greenhouse gas targets in Paris at a meeting in November.

While Republicans argue the U.S. should not put it’s neck out on regulations that they claim will hurt the economy and kill energy jobs, the administration says other nations will not set climate policies on their own unless the U.S. does.

President Obama will speak at the League of Conservation Voters annual Capital Dinner Wednesday evening to talk about the administration’s work on his climate plan.