The US plan makes no mention of the EU objective to limit global-temperature rises to 2° Celsius, and keeps up with the Bush administration's long-standing claim that the Kyoto Protocol would harm the US economy, choosing instead to firmly place the emphasis on enhancing energy security and promoting economic growth.
"The president's proposal is based on the principle that climate change must be addressed by fostering both energy security and economic security, by accelerating the development and deployment of transformational clean energy technologies," the White House said in a statement.
However, the plan does make the need to obtain reductions from the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse-gases - including booming Asian economies - a central element of the US strategy. "It is essential that a new framework include both major developed and developing economies that generate the majority of greenhouse-gas emissions and consume the most energy," the White House indicated.
"The United States will convene the major emitters and energy consumers to advance and complete the new framework by the end of 2008," the White House further announced.
Speaking at a press briefing on 31 May, Jim Connaughton, chairman of the US Council on Environmental Quality, said the meeting would bring together "about ten to 15 countries [which] are responsible for more than 80% of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions".
The objective, Connaughton said, is "to find consensus on the statement of a long-term goal for reducing greenhouse gases… including with countries like India and China".
Building on existing US policies, the White House said that US efforts will centre on technology agreements and bilateral partnerships, such as the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development (AP6).
Crucially, the plan seeks to open up new markets for US firms in technologies ranging from clean coal to solar and wind power to "safe nuclear power", biofuels, and hydrogen-powered vehicles. "America is leading the way with clean energy technology and is stepping up efforts to make advanced energy technology commercially viable."
"We will discuss ways to encourage more investment in developing nations – by making low-cost financing options for clean energy a priority for the international development banks. We will also work to conclude talks with other nations on eliminating tariffs and other barriers to clean-energy technologies and services by the end of this year," the White House said.
"Each country will work to achieve this emissions goal by establishing its own ambitious mid-term national targets and programmes, based on national circumstances," it added.
Connaughton said that the US will then bring industry sectors – transportation, fuel, buildings – to agree on "a common work program to share best practices". "We would anticipate they would set targets, too," he added.