WASHINGTON — The White House issued a report Tuesday warning that the United States could face billions of dollars in added economic costs if it delays action to curb greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change. According to the report, each decade of delay will make it 40 percent more expensive to eventually reach the identical global climate target. The analysis, issued by the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, comes at a time when the Obama administration is struggling to incorporate the costs associated with global warming into its energy decisions. Environmental groups have been pressing the administration to factor in the environmental impact of increased carbon dioxide emissions when it issues coal, oil or natural gas leases.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy told reporters Monday in a conference call that the agency has received more than 300,000 comments on the draft rule.