OTTAWA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Canada's Conservative government said on Wednesday that it would work to develop a North America-wide cap-and-trade system to limit emissions of greenhouse gases.

The announcement marks an apparent policy shift for the Conservatives, whose current approach to climate change centers on cutting the intensity of emissions rather than imposing outright curbs.

"We will work with the provincial governments and our partners to develop and implement a North America-wide cap and trade system for greenhouse gases and an effective international protocol for the post-2012 period," the government said in a major policy statement.

Ottawa said it would set an objective that 90 percent of Canada's electricity needs by 2020 should be met "by non-emitting sources such as hydro, nuclear, clean coal or wind power". The statement said Ottawa would reduce various regulatory barriers to make it easier to build natural gas pipelines into the North, which has rich reserves. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Peter Galloway)

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