The U.S. Congress is unlikely to tackle climate change this year, despite repeatedly including climate change among the challenges that require urgent attention, the Wall Street Journal reported on one of its blogs.

House speaker Nanci Pelosi reportedly told journalists the day after Congress convened following the Christmas holidays that although she has the votes to push through a greenhouse has emissions reduction bill, it is not a likely course of action.

“I’m not sure this year, because I don’t know if we’ll be ready,” Pelosi is quoted as saying. “We won’t go before we’re ready.”

The U.S. does not have a greenhouse gas curbing programme, but hopes were high for that to change as President-elect Barack Obama takes office on January 21. Obama in recent months had talked about a cap-and-trade plan as a centerpiece of his energy and environmental strategy.