Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Environment Minister Peter Kent in the House of Commons on Monday, Feb.11, 2013 . THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada's environment minister says it won't take much work to boost the country's credibility in the United States when it comes to climate change.

Peter Kent made the remark in Montreal on Friday, a couple of days after the Obama administration challenged Canada to act more aggressively on climate change.

His comment came as Canada desperately seeks ways to get Alberta's oilsands bitumen to markets, including the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project to pump oil though the U.S.

The pipeline debates appear to be catapulting climate change back up the political agenda, with the future success of Canada's oil industry potentially hinging on the outcome.

"Certainly, I don't think we have to go very far to build that credibility," Kent said in response to a reporter's question.

"We're doing a lot. Our American friends know that."

Canada, he added, has worked closely with the U.S. on many joint projects, including international initiatives.

"We work aggressively with the United States on climate change to encourage some of the foot-draggers, the major emitters in the developing world, to step up to their responsibilities," Kent said.

Canada has also been regulating sector by sector, like in the U.S., he said.

"We're deep into finalizing new regulations for the oil and gas industry, including the oilsands, which is an area of particular misrepresented and exaggerated impact in the United States," Kent said.