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Published in Winter 2004-2005
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The Puebla Declaration charts a new path forward
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By William V. Kennedy
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As reported in the last issue of Trio, 2004 was the occasion for a comprehensive review of the first decade of CEC operations. That independent review process concluded the CEC had accomplished several noteable achievements over the past ten years. In looking forward, it encourages the CEC to focus its programming more tightly on issues of strategic importance to all three countire on which solid progress can been made.
Since that report, the CEC Secretariat and the Parties to NAAEC have worked to chart a new path forward. Consequently, the CEC reassessed our priorities. At our 2004 Council session in Puebla, Mexico, the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States worked to define their vision of the CEC for the next decade. The Puebla Declaration sets out four important attributes of that vision:
- The CEC is a catalyst. As a small organization with a broad mandate, one of the CEC’s greatest strengths lies in kick-starting programs and projects that can be taken up, sustained and expanded by various levels of government and stakeholders.
- The CEC is a forum to facilitate regional action. Canada, Mexico and the United States face many similar environmental issues and, in some cases, the same international commitments. The CEC plays a critical role in bringing stakeholders from all three countries together so as to help coordinate and strengthen their collective actions.
- The CEC produces concrete results. The CEC strives to make measurable progress in the areas in which it works.
- The CEC produces quality information. The CEC aims to develop and make available environmental information and analysis, at a North American scale that is essential to informed and effective decision-making, both nationally and regionally.
To put this vision into action Canada, Mexico and the United States have determined three broad priorities for the years ahead:
- Information for decision-making. Sound information is required at all stages of the decision-making process and is especially critical to the analysis of policy options and to monitor the effectiveness of policy choices. One challenge in the trinational context is to increase the comparability and compatibility of national or sub-regional information. The CEC has already built and linked multi-national databases and information networks in the areas of pollutant releases. The CEC will continue to provide and enhance continental perspectives on environmental issues.
- Capacity-building. The CEC has for many years made valuable contributions to the gradual strengthening of North American capacities for sound environmental decision-making. For the next several years, the CEC will focus primarily on strengthening the capacity of institutions, with a special emphasis on Mexico.
- Trade and the environment. The CEC can help build synergies among environmental goals and trade objectives. The CEC will also continue to examine environmental concerns associated with some aspects of increased trade, so as to enhance institutional coordination between trade and environmental policies within and among our countries.
With the expression of these priorities, the stage is now set for specific project objectives in our operational plan for 2005–2008. As we begin the new year we look forward to the next steps on this new path.
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