Obama orders federal govt to cut emissions

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama ordered federal agencies on Monday to monitor and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in a move designed to make the US government "lead by example" in fighting climate change.

Obama, who supports setting a nationwide target to reduce emissions blamed for global warming, said in an executive order that agencies across the federal government must set a goal within 90 days for cutting their emissions by 2020.

Other environmental measures such as reducing petroleum use in vehicle fleets by 30 percent by 2020, improving efficiency of water usage by 2020, and increasing rates of recycling by 2015 were also included in the order.