States that have set the U.S. agenda on addressing greenhouse gas emissions are lining up behind a federal climate bill, fearing signs of dissent would weaken a plan that still faces hurdles.

China's top climate change official on Friday welcomed a U.S. climate change bill but said Washington needed to take stronger action to ensure success at year-end talks to settle a global framework on warming.

Cap-and-trade legislation passed by the House of Representatives late on Friday will make it easier for the US to impose import tariffs against countries that do not control their own carbon emissions.

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to limit greenhouse gases. The White House lobbied hard for it:

American politicians, from both parties, insist that they want to combat global warming and reduce this country

Shares in carbon emissions exchange operator Climate Exchange plc jumped nearly 17 percent on Tuesday after IntercontinentalExchange said it had taken a 4.8 percent stake in the company on Monday.

The shares, trading on the London Stock Exchange, closed up 107 pence or 16.6 percent at 751 pence.