Obama hopes U.S. plays greater leadership in climate change iss

    WASHINGTON, June 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said Friday that he would like to see the United States play a greater leadership in climate change issue.     At a White House news conference after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama said some European nations have moved faster than the United States to combat global warming.     "Europe, in many ways over the last several years, has moved more rapidly than the United States on addressing this issue," Obama said.     Obama said the United States had to work with industrialized countries like Germany and with the world's emerging economies, to get an international framework in place to deal with global warming.     "If we can get the framework in place, I'm confident the United States can be an important partner in this process," he said.     Obama said he was hopeful the House would pass a climate bill later Friday, adding that the bill "indicates enormous progress from where we have been."     The over 930-page bill, named the American Clean Energy and Security Act, calls for a 17 percent reduction in emissions of heat-trapping gases from the 2005 levels by 2020 and an 83 percent reduction by 2050.     It establishes a cap-and-trade program to control climate-altering emissions, dictates an increase in the use of renewable energy sources, and sets new efficiency standards for buildings, lighting and industrial facilities.     Merkel said developed countries like the United States have an obligation to show leadership on climate change. Merkel said she was gratified by Obama's total commitment to the climate change issue and to making the Copenhagen conference a success. Special Report: Fight against Global Warming