Bush said he told Nobel peace laureate and former vice president Al Gore that he takes the issue of greenhouse emissions "seriously" and that his administration was "developing a strategy that will deal with it."

At a White House press conference, Bush said his administration was working on climate issues from several fronts, including signing a bill making automobiles more fuel efficient, but said nuclear energy was another key.

"If you are truly serious about dealing with greenhouse gases, it seems like you should be a strong supporter of nuclear power," he said.

"I certainly am, and applaud efforts by members of the congress to provide incentives for the construction of new plants ... It is the best solution to making sure we have economic growth and at the same time be good stewards of the environment."

The US leader reiterated the US position that in order for any global treaty on reducing greenhouse gases to be effective all emitting countries "needed to be at the table."

"One of the main reasons I was against Kyoto was that China was not at the table," he told the press conference.

"We could do all we wanted to do, but it would not affect the greenhouse gases over the long run unless a country like China had agreed ... to participate in the strategy."

World negotiations on climate change in Bali, Indonesia, nearly collapsed this month as the US government insisted any successor to the Kyoto treaty must acknowledge a nation's sovereign right to pursue economic growth.

"It is hard to develop the technologies necessary to be able to make sure our standard of living remains strong and deal with greenhouse gases if you are broke," Bush said Thursday.

He was speaking the day after the US government rejected a request by California to be allowed to introduce tough new vehicle emissions standards, dealing a blow to its hopes of slashing greenhouse gas levels over the next decade.

The Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement that after consideration of the requests by California it had found there were no "compelling and extraordinary conditions" to grant a waiver.

The EPA instead said legislation Bush signed this week was a step towards a "clear national solution" towards curbing greenhouse gas emissions rather than a "confusing patchwork of state rules."

Bush said the issue was how to put together an effective strategy for the country as a whole.

"Is it more effective to let each state make a decision as to how to proceed in curbing greenhouse gases? Or is it more effective to have a national strategy?" he asked.

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