A landmark plan to fight climate change was defeated yesterday in the US Senate, likely postponing action on carbon emissions limits until after this autumn's presidential election.

The bill aimed to cut US global warming emissions by 66% by 2050, but opponents said it would cost jobs and raise fuel prices in an already pinched American economy. The bill was defeated 48-36.

The US green movement expressed dismay at the political wrangling that killed the proposal, although environmental groups cheered the Senate for taking the first step towards addressing the issue that is expected to gain momentum when Bush leaves office.

"Americans are demanding global warming solutions. It's a shame they will have to wait another year," Lexi Shultz, deputy director of the climate programme at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said. "But our country will have another global warming debate in 2009 with a new Congress and president. Putting a cap on global warming pollution is inevitable."

Senator Joe Lieberman, who sponsored the bill, said: "I think people around the world are going to be greatly encouraged by the fact that 54 members of the US Senate are saying they want to support a real response to global warming." The bill was also backed by California's Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Neither the Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama nor his Republican counterpart, John McCain, cast votes on the bill.

Democrats had hoped this summer would be an opportune time to debate emissions caps. But Republicans seized an opening to claim that the bill would increase fuel prices.