White House spokesman Josh Earnest has told reporters that it wouldn't be surprising if President Obama were to seek an international climate change agreement bypassing the need for backing from the US Congress.
The comments come after reports in the New York Times newspaper that President Obama's administration is seeking an emissions deal that won't require ratification by American lawmakers - potentially along the lines of a politically binding agreement that would 'name and shame' countries into decreasing their emissions.
But Mr Earnest pointed out that no deal has yet been reached and he therefore couldn't say whether any eventual agreement would need Congressional approval:
IN: Because that agreement...
OUT: ...at work on
DUR: 38 seconds
Mr Earnest said that the administration doesn't want to work on agreement that could eventually be scuppered domestically:
IN: We would not...
OUT: ... of climate change
DUR: 33 seconds
Mr Earnest said that President Obama is keen to work on the issue and would like lawmakers to do so with him:
IN: We would welcome...
OUT: ...to act on
DUR: 23 seconds