NAFTA Environment Ministers Agree to Boost Air Quality Monitoring

Canadian Environment Minister Sergio Marchi announced the joint action at the conclusion of his day-and-a-half meeting with his two counterparts, US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol M. Browner and Mexican Secretary of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries Julia Carabias. Together, the three officials form the governing body of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), created by the environmental side accord to NAFTA.

“Ensuring compatible and comparable data is a crucial first step if we are to develop regional management strategies,” said Minister Marchi.

Joint action, measures aimed at improved understanding of the state of air quality in North America will include the collection and exchange of appropriate air data, and the adoption of compatible methods for compiling emissions inventories.

The three countries will also create a program to manage jointly the placement of specialized monitoring equipment at strategic locations throughout North America. Standard and reliable information in the three North American countries is key to developing long-term air strategies and to assess the state of the environment.

“Mexico already has air quality monitoring programs in more than 40 cities as part of our Environmental Information System,” said Secretary Carabias. “With this initiative, we will be able ensure compatibility of monitoring techniques and the quality of the data.”

The air initiative is one of several important cooperative actions unveiled today. Minister Marchi, who hosted the meeting between the North American environment ministers, also announced joint action on the protection of critical bird and Monarch butterfly habitats, and signed an agreement with three groups from the private sector to promote the sale of environmental technologies and services throughout North, Central and South America.

The CEC, which is based in Montreal, is funded equally by the three NAFTA partners.