| Montreal, 18/10/2002 – Investing in North America's Future: Innovative Financing for Sustainable Development, a public workshop organized by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) of North America in cooperation with the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), will take place on 9 December at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores (ITESM) in Monterrey, Nuevo León.
The main objective of this workshop is for participants to obtain a better understanding of the links between financial communities and sustainable development, and assist the CEC in revising a draft summary on financing environmentally preferable goods and services.
On the morning of 10 December at the same location, JPAC will hold its regular session 02-04. During this meeting, an update will be given on the North American Agreement for Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) Article 13 report concerning the potential effects of transgenic corn on traditional maize varieties in Mexico. Following this update, JPAC members will discuss a potential advice to the CEC Council (composed of the environment ministers of North America) on sustainable development and the private sector. Finally, JPAC will discuss various administrative matters. During this last portion of the meeting, the public will have an opportunity to make comments.
Registration
Please find attached the preliminary agenda for the public workshop and the JPAC regular session 02-04. Prior to the meeting, participants will receive the CEC draft summary on financing environmentally preferable goods and services. However, even if you cannot attend these meetings, we will be pleased to send you a copy of this document. You may send in comments before 6 December 2002.
Registration is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. To confirm your attendance at these meetings, please complete the attached registration form.
Limited Financial Assistance
Limited financial assistance is available for not-for-profit organizations and individuals who pre-register. A request to receive financial assistance is limited to one person per organization. Please complete the appropriate section of the registration form. The deadline for submitting a request for financial assistance is 8 November 2002.
JPAC and the CEC
The CEC was established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to build cooperation among the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners in implementing the North American Agreement for Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the environmental side accord to NAFTA. The CEC addresses environmental issues of continental concern, with particular attention to the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade.
JPAC is composed of fifteen members, five from each of the three countries, who are appointed by their respective governments. It acts as a single, transnational body. Its members act independently and their responsibility is to provide the Council with their advice on all matters within the scope of NAAEC.
For more information on these meetings, please contact:
Chantal Line Carpentier
Acting Head, CEC Environment, Economy and Trade Program
E-mail: clcarpentier@ccemtl.org
Manon Pepin
JPAC Liaison Officer
E-mail: mpepin@ccemtl.org
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