Canada stepped forward Monday as the first and so far only national subscriber to a global climate change policy goal of cutting oil and gas industry methane emissions by 75% from 2012 levels as of 2030.

Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson kept a Canadian Liberal government re-election promise by endorsing a toughened version of a “global methane pledge” discussed at an international cabinet-level meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia (BC).

Like the U.S. and European Union co-chairs of the talks, Wilkinson supported overall methane emissions reductions of 30%. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry reported 31 countries endorse the goal, including nine of the top 20 emitters.

Wilkinson went a step further by adding that his Liberal administration intends to enforce...