| Montreal, 6/07/2004 – During its last meetings, held on 21–23 June 2004, in Puebla, Mexico, the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) focused its discussion on the future directions of North American environmental issues in the context of the ten-year anniversary of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC).
Following a presentation by representatives of the independent Ten-year Review and Assessment Committee (TRAC), which submitted a report on the ten years of North American environmental cooperation to the three environment ministers of North America (the CEC Council), members of the public expressed their views on this matter.
Based on the excellent TRAC report, the comments made during the public workshop, the public-led networking session and the public portion of the CEC Council, JPAC will provide detailed advice to the CEC Council on future directions for North American environmental issues, taking into account TRAC report recommendations on renewing Council's commitment to the CEC as an innovative institution, advancing our knowledge of trade and environment linkages, building capacity for stronger environmental partnerships, getting the relationships right—effective governance in the CEC, ensuring and leveraging sustainable funding for the CEC, ensuring effective implementation of the citizen submission process (NAAEC Articles 14 and 15), building and communicating knowledge, building the CEC constituency, and implementing the recommendations of the TRAC report.
During an in-camera session with the CEC Council, JPAC members provided their initial comments on future directions for the NAAEC and the relationships between CEC bodies, the CEC Strategic Plan (to be developed and implemented in 2005), North American water issues, CEC budget issues for 2004 and 2005, CEC cooperation with the NAFTA Free Trade Commission as stipulated in NAAEC Article 10(6), transboundary environmental impact assessment in accordance with NAAEC Article 10(7), the involvement of private sector and indigenous communities, and the need to release the CEC Secretariat Article 13 report on maize and biodiversity.
In addition, at its working regular session, JPAC agreed to develop specific advice to Council on a plan for capacity building and securing the long-term involvement of indigenous peoples in the CEC activities, the operation of Council Resolution 00-09 related to NAAEC Articles 14 and 15, and the emerging perception of the Council being in conflict of interest in its implementation of the NAAEC. Also, JPAC will provide information to the CEC Secretariat on how to better involve the private sector in the work of the CEC.
The next JPAC meetings will take place in Montreal in conjunction with the CEC public meeting on the market for renewable energy in North America, 28-29 October, followed by a JPAC regular session, on 29-30 October.
For more information, please consult the CEC web site at <www.cec.org> or contact Jocelyne Morin at jmorin@ccemtl.org.
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