EU praises Obama's climate change plan

(BRUSSELS) - The European Commision on Tuesday praised a new broad plan to fight climate change unveiled by US President Barack Obama, including restrictions to curb carbon emissions and incentives to foster clean energy sources.

"I very much welcome President Obama's renewed push to tackle global climate change. The plans set out today are positive steps that will create further momentum for international climate action, " said Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso in a statement.

Barroso called the European Union "a confident climate leader" which already is reducing emissions considerably and expanding on renewables and saving energy.

"Climate action can be a tremendous opportunity to modernise our economies, create jobs and growth, and invest in the dynamic industries of the future," he added.

"Finding global solutions to the climate challenge is a shared responsibility," he said. "President Obama's announcement will help give the world confidence that it's possible to win this fight, if we fight it together."