HONOLULU (TheBlaze/AP) — President Barack Obama has vetoed two measures that would have blocked steps that his administration is taking to address climate change.

One would have nullified carbon pollution standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The second would have voided a set of national standards designed to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas pollution from existing power plants.

In a letter notifying Congress of his decision, Obama says climate change is a "profound threat" that must be addressed.

 U.S. President Barack Obama. (Photo by Saul Loeb-Pool/Getty Images)

"Climate change poses a profound threat to our future and future generations," he said in a statement, according to The Hill newspaper.

"The Clean Power Plan is a tremendously important step in the fight against global climate change," Obama said in his letter to Republicans, adding that "because the resolution would overturn the Clean Power Plan, which is critical to protecting against climate change and ensuring the health and well-being of our nation, I cannot support it."

Some Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates scoff at the climate science.

Obama has made addressing climate change a priority. He recently praised a new international climate agreement reached at a Paris conference and credited his administration as being a driving force behind the deal.

He rejected the measures through a rare "pocket veto," intended to be used when Congress has adjourned, as it did Friday for the year. A pocket vote essentially takes effect when the president fails to sign a bill within 10 days.

The Hill reported that Obama's vetoes were widely expected.