Obama focuses on environmental policies

New US president elect Barack Obama has said in his first speech since winning the election earlier this month that environmental issues are imperative to the future of the country.

He pledged to introduce rigorous caps on the emission of greenhouse gases stating that to delay this measure would have serious consequences for the country.

Mr Obama also emphasised that his intentions to develop carbon penalties for those companies with high emissions has not changed since the election and that the fees from the plan would go towards the research of alternative energy sources.

He made a point of highlighting the importance of the environment during the speech, commenting: "Any nation that is willing to join the cause of combatting climate change will have an ally in the United States of America."

In similar news, the Environmental Protection Agency of the US is reportedly planning to relax the rules on air quality monitoring in rural areas.