| |
|
Published in Summer 2001
|
June Council session a chance to renew the Commission's vision
|
| |
As a new vision of North American partnership takes hold, the Commission has much to offer in building cooperation on the environmental front.
|
| |
|
|
When the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States met in Quebec City this past April, they placed a new emphasis on enhancing relations among the NAFTA partners. Now, as their environment ministers meet as members of the CEC Council in Guadalajara this month (28–29 June), it is with an appreciation of an emerging continent-wide community.
As the ties between our three societies grow stronger, there is a growing recognition of the interests we share in the well-being of all residents in the North American neighbourhood. There is a realization that we can achieve more together than we could separately and, indeed, that much of the progress we seek, particularly on the environmental front, we can only achieve cooperatively.
At this pivotal juncture, the Council has an important opportunity to realize more fully the Commission’s potential as a forum for cooperation in the protection of our shared environment. In guiding the Commission’s future work, it will be important to build on its successes of the past.
One such opportunity is to expand our efforts to engage other communities in our work. Our
Children’s Health and the Environment initiative, for example, is establishing linkages between the environment and health communities. Another is our current Article 13 initiative on the evolving North American electricity market, where we are working with people in the electricity generating sector in examining the environmental opportunities and challenges of this vital industry. Similarly, we are working with the transport sector in studying the environmental dimensions of freight traffic in North America.
Our work in the development of green goods and services, such as shade-grown coffee and sustainable tourism, reveals the potential of harnessing the power of the market in the conservation of biological diversity, and holds great promise generally in the promotion of environmentally sustainable commerce.
A Commission-led process aided the North American countries in establishing limits for specific pollutants, resulting in the complete phase-out of DDT and chlordane on this continent and the achievement of significant progress against a number of other targets. The efficacy of this cooperative model has been demonstrated and it stands ready for expanded service in the elimination of many other pollutants.
Through the Commission, North America has emerged as a world leader in the compilation and comparison of information on the industrial sources of toxic substances, using matched data from Canada and the United States. With Mexico’s commitment to develop a mandatory pollutant reporting system, and support from the Commission in building Mexico’s capacity to do so, the possibility of comparing data from all three NAFTA partners promises to become a reality.
The citizen submissions process has brought 31 complaints to the Commission alleging government failures in the enforcement of environmental laws. Indications are that this unique whistle-blower mechanism can make an important contribution in the promotion of better enforcement. We look forward to discussions on the recommendations received by the Joint Public Advisory Committee(JPAC) for its improvement.
Strengthening linkages with other communities, fostering cooperation across a continent, compiling comparable information on conditions in three countries, harnessing the power of the market, building capacity, engaging the public, promoting enforcement of environmental law . . . these have formed the foundation of our work and, I believe, our successes of the past. As the Council considers how best to adapt our work to the changing realities of North American life, I believe it will find the Commission for Environmental Cooperation offers much to build on.
|
Top
