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Published in Winter 2000-2001
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Lichtinger named Mexican environment secretary
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Former CEC Executive Director Victor Lichtinger has been appointed as Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources in the new Mexican government of President Vicente Fox.
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Victor Lichtinger
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Mr. Lichtinger, who became the first Executive Director of CEC in 1994, played an important role in the formation and first years of the organization, leading an unprecedented effort to establish a non-partisan institution born of a free trade agreement but focused on the environment. He gained wide recognition for his work in establishing an objective, credible body responsive to the needs of civil society and a rallying point for cooperation among the three NAFTA partners in addressing environmental issues of common concern.
Prior to joining CEC, Mr. Lichtinger gained experience in the environmental field through work in both public and private sectors. He was general coordinator of Mexican delegations to a number of international bodies, including the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. He later became the General Director of ICF Kaiser in Mexico, a consulting firm specializing in the environment. Following his work with CEC, Mr. Lichtinger returned to Mexico where he became president of Especialistas Ambientales S.A. de C.V., an international environmental consulting firm. After the National Action Party (PAN) was victorious at the polls in July, Mr. Lichtinger served as co-chair of the environmental transition team for the incoming government until his appointment as environment secretary.
Current CEC Executive Director Janine Ferretti welcomed her former colleague’s appointment, saying "I know he brings a deep commitment to the environmental agenda, and this will be good for both Mexico and all of North America."
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