| Montreal, 24/10/1997 – The Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)¾ composed of Canadian Environment Minister Christine Stewart, Mexican Secretary of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries Julia Carabias and US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol M. Browner¾today met in a special session to discuss future cooperation on environmental issues of common concern, and identify progress on actions taken to implement the goals set under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the environmental side accord to NAFTA.
Reviewing Progress and Charting the Future
The Council examined the approaches and results of the NAAEC implementation over the past three years as part of its overall analysis on the future direction of the CEC. In the NAAEC, the NAFTA partners agreed to review the operations and implemention of the agreement within four years of its entry into force. In their discussions, the three environment leaders emphasized the importance of being responsive to the evolving environmental circumstances in North America. In anticipation of this final review, the Council today heard from a group of independent experts who had been led by Maurice Strong and the CEC's Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC). The final Council report on the review will be available to the public in early 1998.
Expanding the Environment and Trade Agenda
The environmental leaders recognized the unique nature of the CEC as a trilateral institution and as the only regional environmental organization that has its roots in a trade agreement. The CEC is in a natural and privileged position to advance the understanding of the relationship between the environment and trade. The Council directed the Secretariat to develop a conceptual framework for an expanded trade and environment program in 1998. This framework will take into consideration the following objectives: encourage a strong environment and trade program that looks at both positive and negative impacts of trade; consult experts to develop the means of measuring those impacts; ensure public participation in environment and trade issues; evaluate the role the CEC could play in enhancing trade in green goods; expand public access to environmental information; engage the private sector in environment-trade initiatives; and direct the North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation (NAFEC) to consider funding projects related to environment and trade issues.
Selection of Additional Toxic Substances
The Council has announced it will evaluate an initial group of toxic substances against criteria it has agreed will be used to identify new toxic substances for regional action. Such regional action plans are aimed at reducing the harmful health and environmental risks posed by the presence of toxic substances in the North American environment. | 
