THE UN chief climate negotiator said yesterday that the US should find it easier to legislate on greenhouse gas emission cuts after a landmark ruling that such emissions represent a danger to public health.

THE UN chief climate negotiator said yesterday that the US should find it easier to legislate on greenhouse gas emission cuts after a landmark ruling that such emissions represent a danger to public health.

"This is very significant in the sense that if the senate fails to adopt legislation on emissions, the (US) administration will have the authority to legislate," Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, told the German Press Agency DPA in Copenhagen.

But De Boer stressed that legislation remained the best option.

"Legislation in the senate, which would include a solution making use of emissions trading, would be the most cost effective solution," De Boer said.

Monday's ruling by the US Environmental Protection Agency effectively allows President Barack Obama to circumvent Congress and impose new restrictions on emissions from vehicles, power plants and other sources, even if lawmakers fail to approve climate legislation that is currently under debate.

But Obama has said he would prefer to wait for Congress to pass a new climate bill. - Sapa