Obama, Trudeau target methane emissions in new agreement

The regulatory process will begin by requiring oil and gas companies to provide information that helps the EPA identify the most significant sources of pollution and how technology can be applied at the most reasonable costs, McCarthy said.

Canada's joining in the effort to cut methane emissions comes after previous years' disagreement over the merits of the Keystone XL pipeline to transport crude from that nation's vast reserves of oil sands.

Gene Karpinski , the president of the League of Conservation Voters, said that "after many years in which Canada moved in the wrong direction on climate change, it's especially exciting to see Prime Minister Trudeau swiftly correct course and set Canada back on track toward a clean energy future."