EPA head says "proud" of U.S. climate efforts

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While the United States is still far away from implementing a final climate change plan, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency said on Monday that America can show up at international global warming talks next month proud of what is has accomplished so far.

"My belief is that there is no one who can look at what we're doing and not think that the United States is engaged here," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told Reuters in an interview.

Jackson pointed out that progress has been made in Congress advancing legislation to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

The House of Representatives passed a climate bill in June to slash U.S. emissions 20 percent by 2020, but similar legislation has moved slowly in the Senate and last week cleared the Environment and Public Works Committee with no Republican support.

Five other Senate committees are reviewing the legislation and Senator John Kerry is spearheading an effort to craft a compromise bill that would expand domestic offshore oil and gas drilling and nuclear power generation to pickup support.

Lawmakers don't expect Congress to approve a final climate bill that President Barack Obama could sign into law until sometime next year.

At the same time, the Obama administration has acted on its own it to fight climate change, by raising the fuel requirements for new cars and trucks that will result in fewer emissions and promoting more electricity generation by wind and solar energy.

The EPA has also taken steps that could allow it to regulate U.S. greenhouse gases.

Still, environmental groups were hoping the United States would be further along in finalizing a climate change plan by the time of international talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, next month to hammer out a new agreement to slow global warming.

Jackson said "we all wish we had a little bit more time" but the United States has made progress at the executive level and in Congress, especially when compared to the previous eight years during the Bush administration.

"I know that when the United States goes to Copenhagen we'll have lots to show," she said. "I am quite proud of all we've done."

(Reporting by Tom Doggett; Editing by Marguerita Choy)