| Montreal, 12/04/1999 – The Joint Public Advisory
Committee (JPAC) of the Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) held its first
Regular Session of 1999 on 25-26 March in Mexico City. JPAC is composed of fifteen
members, five from each of the three NAFTA countries and is responsible for providing
advice to the CEC Council of Ministers on any matter within the scope of the North
American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC).
One of JPAC's important roles is to promote public participation in the
activities of the CEC. During its session, JPAC held a round table with the public on the
CEC's Three-Year Program Plan. The Interim Executive Director of the CEC, Ms. Janine
Ferretti and members of her staff were in attendance, permitting an exchange on matters of
substance related to the Program Plan.
Presiding over the meeting was Mr. Jon Plaut, the JPAC Chair for 1999.
Over 150 participants, representing NGOs, the National Advisory Committees, governments
and concerned individuals attended the round table, resulting in a wide range of very
valuable comments, observations and recommendations. The goal of the session was to inform
and assist JPAC in identifying substantive issues which it may in turn recommend be
brought forward or developed for inclusion in the future in the evolving Three-Year
Program Plan and annual work plans.
Moreover, the JPAC produced specific advice to Council on the Revised
Guidelines for Citizen Submissions on Enforcement Matters under Articles 14 and 15 of the
NAAEC and on the Environmental Management Systems and Compliance Report. JPAC also
received an extremely informative report from representatives of the North American Fund
for Environmental Cooperation (NAFEC), including very useful recommendations that resulted
from a meeting of NAFEC grantees and other organizations involved in producing and
marketing green goods and services.
Finally, three new Mexican JPAC members, Ms. Regina Barba, Ms. Blanca
Torres and Mr. Daniel Basurto participated in this session, following their nominations by
Ms. Julia Carabias, the Mexican Secretary of the Environment, Natural Resources and
Fisheries.
The next JPAC meetings will take place on 7 and 8 May in Anchorage,
Alaska. On 7 May is a joint meeting with the CEC Sound Management of Chemicals Working
Group and on 8 May, the Second JPAC Regular Session of 1999. |
