While states and provinces have been cobbling together a patchwork of approaches, federal officials say the time is ripe for a continent-wide solution.
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon confirmed in an interview that the file will be an immediate priority.
He says there are plenty of similarities between Obama's climate position and the Canadian government's.
He says Environment Minister Jim Prentice will be working on the file over the coming weeks.
Obama has set the target of reducing greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020.
The Harper government's plan would cut emission three per cent below 1990s levels by that time.
Both targets fall well short of the Kyoto Accord, which is supported wholeheartedly by Europe and the developing world.