(CNSNews.com) - House Republicans are taking a cautious approach to President Bush's plan to "slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of our greenhouse gas emissions."

The Republican leaders spoke on Wednesday, after President Bush announced a new national goal: He said the United States will aim to stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 -- and he outlined the wrong way and the right way to do it.

"House Republicans stand ready to work with the current President and future Presidents, as well as our Democratic counterparts in Congress, to advance responsible policies that will create jobs and promote clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment," House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio) said. "We are equally prepared to reject policies that will destroy jobs or limit freedom for American families."

Likewise, House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) said congressional Republicans "will continue to support policies that channel the power and growth of the American economy to achieve meaningful environmental gains."

Blunt embraced "cutting-edge technologies and an innovative workforce" and rejected "redundant mandates, billions in new, job-killing taxes, and mountains of red-tape."

Rep. Blunt said Congress should modify the tax code in a way that encourages American families and businesses to conserve energy resources and develop alternative sources. "Such a strategy will create new jobs for American workers, help us take meaningful steps toward energy independence, and improve the quality of our environment," he said.

No free ride

The way President Bush envisions it, the growth in greenhouse gas emissions will slow over the next decade, stop by 2025, and begin to reverse thereafter, as long as technology continues to advance.

Bush on Wednesday said progress can be made only if all major economies agree to cut their emissions: "We're working toward a climate agreement that includes the meaningful participation of every major economy -- and gives none a free ride," he said.

Bush noted that the Kyoto Protocol would have limited U.S. economic growth while allowing major developing nations -- China and India -- to increase their emissions. The U.S. refused to sign the treaty.

The president also mentioned "a growing problem here at home" -- using old laws to deal with a new problem.

"Some courts are taking laws written more than 30 years ago...and applying them to global climate change. The Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act were never meant to regulate global climate," Bush said.

As an example, he mentioned a Supreme Court ruling last year that said the Clean Air Act could be used to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. "This would automatically trigger regulation under the Clean Air Act of greenhouse gases all across our economy" -- a mistake, Bush said.

Core principles

In his speech, President Bush outlined "certain core principles" that should guide Congress as it debates climate change legislation. "[T]here is a wrong way and a right way to approach reducing greenhouse gas emissions," he said. "Bad legislation would impose tremendous costs on our economy and on American families without accomplishing the important climate change goals we share."

Bush rejected higher taxes, duplicate mandates, or demands for "sudden and drastic" emissions cuts. "The right way is to set realistic goals for reducing emissions consistent with advances in technology, while increasing our energy security and ensuring our economy can continue to prosper and grow," Bush said.

He rejected sharp increases in gasoline prices and home heating bills. Instead, he urged Congress to adopt policies that spur investment in new technologies. Bush also put in a plug for nuclear power and clean-coal technology.

Bush warned that additional regulatory costs on American businesses "would simply drive American jobs overseas and increase emissions there." He called on all major economies to work cooperatively for a "fair and effective" international climate agreement.

He warned that punitive tariffs and protectionist barriers could start a carbon-based global trade war and stifle the use of new technologies. "The right way is to work to make advanced technology affordable and available in the developing world -- by lowering trade barriers, creating a global free market for clean energy technologies, and enhancing international cooperation and technology investment."

Bush said in the long run, new technologies are the key to addressing climate change. "But in the short run, they can be more expensive," he said, calling for "strong new incentives" to spur investment in such technologies.

A meeting taking place this week in Paris is laying the groundwork for an international climate meeting to be held in conjunction with the G-8 summit in July.