Vice President Joseph R. Biden told Canadian officials Friday that President-elect Donald Trump can’t reverse U.S. policy on climate change.

“Regardless of whether the next administration is as aggressive as we were, there’s no way to turn back,” Mr. Biden said in Ottawa. “This tide has begun to roll.”

In meetings with liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before Mr. Biden leaves office, the vice president said U.S. climate change policies will continue under Mr. Trump because much of the effort is now controlled by market forces and by actions at the state level.

“Many of the trends that have taken hold are no longer government dependent, they’re market driven,” Mr. Biden said.

The vice president visited the Canadian capital as Mr. Trudeau was completing a move to put a national price on carbon emissions. Mr. Trump has said he’ll pull the U.S. out of a global agreement signed by Mr. Obama to reduce carbon emissions.

Mr. Biden urged Canadian officials to act swiftly to address climate change, and thanked Canada for its “continued leadership” on the issue.

“It’s going to be absolutely critical in the years ahead,” he said.

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