The White House took steps Friday toward issuing methane emissions regulations at hydraulic fracturing sites, a move that would slash greenhouse gas emissions in hopes of meeting President Obama’s climate goals but will invite backlash from industry.

The news is a victory for environmental groups, which note that methane — a short-lived, potent greenhouse gas that has a 20 times greater impact on climate change than carbon dioxide — is the largest remaining unregulated greenhouse gas, accounting for 9 percent of U.S. emissions.