US and Canada agree on climate change measures

News of the agreement came the same day US President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a joint press conference on the White House lawn, the first such meeting between the two countries' leaders in nearly two decades.

Before Thursday's visit, Obama and Trudeau agreed to cut methane gas emissions by 40 percent to 45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025. As part of the agreement, both countries will also develop new regulations for methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.

For the White House, the agreement with Canada is seen as a way to meet US goals set at last year's climate summit in Paris. In February, Obama's plan to limit climate change faced a major setback when the Supreme Court delayed legislation intended to cut emissions from power plants.

A rare occasion

In addition, the two countries pledged to implement the Paris agreement "as soon as feasible," and touched upon other key issues like standards for shipping, fishing and exploration in the Arctic.

The two leaders will also meet for a rare state dinner at the White House, where the 44-year-old Trudeau, who arrived in Washington on Wednesday, will be accompanied by his wife, Sophie Gregoire.

Trudeau's visit to the White House is the first one by a Canadian prime minister since 1997. The photogenic leader, who was elected in November 2015, is the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

blc/jil (AP, Reuters, dpa)