Columnist Charles Krauthammer called President Obama's climate change proposal "nuts" on Special Report Tuesday, saying it would destroy the American coal industry while it exploded in the rest of the world.

Citing a recent report by the IEA about the U.S. reduction in carbon dioxide emissions to a 20-year low and the struggling economy that has contributed to Obama's languishing approval ratings, Krauthammer sharply criticized Obama's agenda as one that would have "zero effect" on the climate, even if one believed in global warming.

"At a time like this and also with high unemployment, a very sluggish economy sort of hanging on the edge, the president wants to introduce legislation that everybody understands is intended to kill coal," Krauthammer said. "The regulations on the books already have made it impossible for an American to open a new plant. What this is going to do is destroy the existing plants, and this is why it is nuts. China and India are opening a new coal plant every week. Even if you believe in global warming, this is going to have zero effect on the climate."

Obama spoke confidently Tuesday of "climate cooperation" with countries like China and India, but Krauthammer said such countries would hardly be keen to arrest the development of their industrialization efforts to please Obama's agenda.

Obama couldn't even convince China to turn over NSA leaker Edward Snowden, he added.

"All we're going to be doing is dismantle our industry and essentially shipping it overseas," Krauthammer said. "China has made it absolutely clear, India as well, the West has had a century and a half advance in industrialization. It is not going to arrest its development, which has been lifting the Chinese and Indians out of poverty, in order to please us. Here is a president who can't get China to turn over one Edward Snowden. He is going to get China to arrest its industrial development as a way to please him? Zero chance."

Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.V.) also criticized Obama's proposed regulations Tuesday, calling it irresponsible and a "war on jobs."