The House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to block President Barack Obama's sweeping climate change regulations just hours after he pledged to take action in the fight against global warming before a conference of world leaders in Paris.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives blocked the president's measures to curb power plant pollution in the states in a 242-180 vote, reports The Hill. Republicans purposely took the vote on the same day that Obama called for the international community to sign an agreement to combat climate change in order to demonstrate that Congress is not supportive of Obama's climate change action.

The legislation blocks the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing new regulations that would cut power plant pollution in the U.S. and limit emissions from new plants, The Wall Street Journal reports. Although the EPA rules would mandate a 32 percent cut in the power sector's carbon dioxide emissions within 15 years, the rules would in turn hurt the coal industry. However, the EPA says it will cut costs for consumers on their electricity bills.

Since the Senate passed the legislation last month, it will now be sent to Obama, who has promised to veto the bill.

According to Democrats, the vote was a waste of time since Republicans don't have enough votes to override a presidential veto.

Democrats also mocked Republicans who they said were "in denial" about the science and impact of climate change during the floor debate.

"What we should be doing here is providing some wind at the back of not only our president, but of all the leaders of the world who are gathering to try to figure out how to deal with this challenge," Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern said on the House floor, according to CNN.

On the other hand, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise argued that the president's focus on the issue was misplaced.

"While the president continues to talk about the national security threat posed by global warming, the American people want more focus put on the strategy to defeat ISIS," he said.