ATHERTON, Calif. (AP) — President Barack Obama says he is very confident his administration is on "strong legal footing" in its defense of a key piece of his climate-change agenda.

Obama is telling political donors in California that the Supreme Court's decision to freeze a new rule reducing power plant emissions is only a temporary setback.

The power plant rule would aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at existing power plants by about one-third by 2030.

But the court this week put it on hold until after legal challenges are resolved. The decision signaled that the justices believe opponents have made strong arguments against it.

Speaking at a fundraiser, Obama told donors not to "despair." He says fighting climate change is going to be "an enormous generational challenge."