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Obama and Justin Trudeau of Canada Announce Climate Pledge Obama and Canada’s Justin Trudeau Promote Ties and Climate Plan
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, met with President Obama on Thursday for the first official visit by a Canadian leader in 19 years, a diplomatic honor made possible in part by new pledges of cooperation on combating climate change. WASHINGTON — President Obama on Thursday said the United States and Canada were more closely aligned than ever, using a meeting with Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, to announce joint efforts to curb emissions of planet-warming gases and to promote his personal rapport with the leader of a pivotal neighbor.
Mr. Obama and Mr. Trudeau announced Thursday morning new commitments to reduce planet-warming emissions of methane, a chemical contained in natural gas that is about 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide and that can leak from drilling wells and pipelines. Mr. Obama played the older, more experienced host to Mr. Trudeau’s fresh-faced newcomer during the visit, the first official one by a Canadian leader in 19 years, as the two announced they were teaming to reduce the release of methane, a chemical contained in natural gas.
In a joint statement, the leaders promised that their two countries would “ play a leadership role internationally in the low carbon global economy over the coming decades.” As part of the announcement, United States officials said they would immediately begin a new push to regulate methane emissions from existing oil and gas facilities, though finishing that process before the end of Mr. Obama’s tenure is unlikely. “He campaigned on a message of hope and of change; his positive and optimistic vision is inspiring young people,” Mr. Obama said at a news conference in the White House Rose Garden, drawing unmistakable parallels between Mr. Trudeau’s rise to power and his own. “On the world stage, his country is leading on climate change and cares deeply about development, so from my perspective, what’s not to like?”
“Methane is upwards of 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the planet,” said Gina McCarthy, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. “It has become clear that it is time for the E.P.A. to take additional action to regulate existing sources in the oil and gas sector.” Mr. Obama, 54, welcomed Mr. Trudeau, 44, with a formal arrival ceremony on the South Lawn featuring a 21-gun salute, color guards and military bands. Mr. Trudeau was greeted by cheering onlookers waving miniature American and Canadian flags, reflecting the same brand of rock-star adulation that characterized many of Mr. Obama’s 2008 campaign appearances.
Mr. Obama and Mr. Trudeau also pledged new cooperation in preserving the Arctic and focusing on biodiversity, science-based decision-making, indigenous people and building a sustainable Arctic economy. The two nations also promised to accelerate the carrying out of agreements made in climate talks in Paris last year. The official visit unfolded against the backdrop of the increasingly intense campaign to succeed Mr. Obama. Mr. Trudeau, who has joked about welcoming Americans to his country if they are afraid of a Donald J. Trump presidency, diplomatically declined to criticize the Republican presidential front-runner during the news conference.
“Both nations know we must care for the one planet we share,” said Sally Jewell, the secretary of the interior in the United States. “I appreciate Canada’s strong leadership.” “I have tremendous confidence in the American people and look forward to working with whomever they choose to send to this White House later this year,” Mr. Trudeau said, answering a question about the stakes for his country and its relationship with the United States should Mr. Trump or Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, win the White House.
The climate announcements came before a day of ceremony that will conclude with a state dinner in the East Room of the White House. On the menu is Alaskan halibut casseroles, roasted apricot galette, baby lamb chops with Yukon Gold potato dauphinoise and a maple pecan cake with cocoa nib wafer and butterscotch swirl ice cream. Mr. Obama rejected the idea that his own tenure had helped to fuel Mr. Trump’s rise, arguing that the “Republican political elites” and news media are responsible for setting a divisive tone and elevating an us-versus-them mentality — including questions about the president’s birthplace — that created an atmosphere in which Mr. Trump has thrived.
The arrival of Mr. Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, has prompted comparisons to a similar visit in 1977 by Pierre Trudeau, a former prime minister and the current leader’s father. That visit made headlines when Margaret Trudeau, the prime minister’s wife, wore an above-the-knee dress to the White House state dinner. “I have been blamed by Republicans for a lot of things, but being blamed for their primaries and who they’re selecting for their party is,” Mr. Obama said with a long pause and a grin, “novel.”
While Canada and the United States have long been close allies, Mr. Obama’s efforts to confront global warming had become a major point of contention with Mr. Trudeau’s predecessor, Stephen Harper, who sought to aggressively expand Canada’s oil industry. “What I’m not going to do is to validate some notion that the Republican crackup that’s been taking place is a consequence of actions that I’ve taken,” he added.
On policy, Mr. Obama and Mr. Trudeau promised that their two countries would “play a leadership role internationally in the low-carbon global economy over the coming decades.” As part of the announcement, United States officials said they would immediately begin a new push to regulate methane emissions from existing oil and gas facilities, though finishing that process before the end of Mr. Obama’s tenure is unlikely.
The Obama administration wants to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 percent to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025. The Interior Department has proposed a number of regulations on methane leaks, but it has yet to write a regulation governing such leaks from current oil and gas drilling on public land.
Mr. Obama and Mr. Trudeau also pledged new cooperation in preserving the Arctic, and to move more quickly to carry out agreements made in climate talks in Paris last year.
“The president and I agree on many things, including, of paramount importance, the direction we want to take our countries in to ensure a clean and prosperous future,” Mr. Trudeau said, thanking the president, whom he addressed as “Barack,” for his leadership on climate change. “Canada and the U.S. will stand side by side to confront the pressing needs that face not only our two countries, but the entire planet.”
The official visit was to conclude with a state dinner in the East Room of the White House, featuring Alaskan halibut casseroles, baby lamb chops and a maple pecan cake with butterscotch swirl ice cream.
The arrival of Mr. Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau — accompanied by their three young children — has prompted comparisons to a similar visit in 1977 by Pierre Trudeau, then the prime minister and the current leader’s father. That visit made headlines when Margaret Trudeau, his wife, wore an above-the-knee dress to the White House state dinner.
While Canada and the United States have long been close allies, Mr. Obama’s efforts to confront global warming had been a major point of contention with Mr. Trudeau’s predecessor, Stephen Harper, who sought to aggressively expand Canada’s oil industry.
As Mr. Obama became more determined to leave behind a lasting environmental legacy, he delayed and eventually rejected construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have transported nearly a million barrels a day of heavily polluting oil from Alberta to refineries on the Gulf Coast.As Mr. Obama became more determined to leave behind a lasting environmental legacy, he delayed and eventually rejected construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have transported nearly a million barrels a day of heavily polluting oil from Alberta to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
Mr. Obama’s rejection of the pipeline severely strained relations with Mr. Harper. Mr. Obama’s rejection of the pipeline severely strained relations with Mr. Harper, but Mr. Trudeau’s election last year signaled a shift in policy that was welcomed by the White House. Mr. Trudeau did not criticize Mr. Obama’s stance on the pipeline, and he has pledged to pursue an ambitious environmental agenda dovetailing with Mr. Obama’s policies.
But Mr. Trudeau’s election last year signaled a shift in policy that was welcomed by the White House. Mr. Trudeau did not criticize Mr. Obama’s rejection of the pipeline, and Mr. Trudeau has pledged to pursue an ambitious environmental agenda to coincide with Mr. Obama’s policies.
In December, Canadian officials helped to push through a historic global climate agreement in Paris.In December, Canadian officials helped to push through a historic global climate agreement in Paris.
“The climate relationship with Canada really just ramped up dramatically quickly,” Todd Stern, Mr. Obama’s special envoy for climate change, told reporters before Mr. Trudeau’s arrival. In their Oval Office meeting on Thursday, the leaders also discussed military cooperation, efforts to combat terrorism, improvements in trade and environmental concerns.
The two leaders will meet privately on Thursday to discuss military cooperation, efforts to combat terrorism, improvements in trade and environmental concerns. They agreed to push forward on an agreement allowing travelers from each country to be pre-cleared through immigration and customs, aiding tourism and commerce. The two leaders also struck a deal to share more information — including on no-fly lists and border crossings — in an effort to prevent foreign fighters from traveling freely between Canada and the United States.
Among the issues the two leaders will seek to resolve is a decades-old dispute over softwood lumber. American officials say lumber from Canada is unfairly subsidized by the government there, an assertion that Canadian officials reject. They parted with some issues unresolved, most prominently a decades-old dispute over softwood lumber. American officials say lumber from Canada is unfairly subsidized by the government there, an assertion that Canadian officials reject. Both leaders said they were optimistic about resolving their differences on the matter in the coming months.
“That’s a longstanding and complicated issue, but we do welcome the Trudeau’s government interest in discussing a new arrangement for softwood lumber, and we’re open to exploring all options with Canada to address this important trade issue,” said Mark Feierstein, the senior director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council. “It’s been a longstanding bilateral irritant, but it hardly defines the nature of the U.S.-Canadian relationship,” Mr. Obama said, adding that while each side would likely be dissatisfied with the outcome, officials would ultimately find a middle ground on the issue. “People will complain and grumble,” Mr. Obama said. “But it will be fine.”
But the most anticipated topic is the environment.
“Prime Minister Trudeau is already showing serious, concrete commitment to accelerating progress on climate,” Mr. Stern said. “The commitment of both leaders to addressing this global challenge is clear. And I suspect under their leadership, North America will make significant progress this year and next.”
The Obama administration wants to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 percent to 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025. The Interior Department has proposed a number of regulations on methane leaks, but it has yet to write a regulation governing such leaks from current oil and gas drilling on public land.