| Montreal, 17/12/2001 – Following the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation's (CEC) symposium on "Environmental Challenges and Opportunities of the Evolving North American Electricity Market" and in its regular session on 29-30 November 2001, in San Diego, California, the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) made progress on several issues.
Environmental Challenges and Opportunities of the Evolving North American Electricity Market
Based on the presentations and public comments made during the symposium, JPAC sent a letter to the CEC Council (composed of the environment ministers-or the equivalent-of Canada, Mexico and the United States) recommending specific areas in which the CEC can contribute to the establishment of the supply and distribution of clean, reliable and sustainable electricity in North America through a series of initiatives. JPAC will provide an advice to Council on the potential actions to be implemented by the CEC following the reception of the conclusions and recommendations of the Advisory Board on Electricity and the Environment and the results of the call for public comments on this issue.
Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation
On another issue, JPAC requested permission from Council to conduct a public review of two issues concerning the implementation and further elaboration of Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), namely:
- the matter of Council limiting the scope of factual records; and
- the imposition of a requirement that the Secretariat provide the Parties with its work plan and the opportunity to comment on it.
JPAC has also requested that Council decide whether or not it will refer this issue to JPAC for public review no later than 14 January 2002.
Annual Council Session
In addition, JPAC provided Council with an advice on how to improve the public portion of the annual Council Session. The next session will take place in June 2002 in Ottawa, Ontario. In this advice JPAC states that its round tables organized in conjunction with the next Council Session will focus on the education and capacity building opportunities for the CEC’s Sound Management of Chemicals working group and the public.
North American Fund for Environment Cooperation (NAFEC)
Finally, JPAC will review the North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation (NAFEC) Administration and Funding Guidelines in preparation to developing an advice to Council on this issue.
Next meetings: Children's Health and the Environment in North America and JPAC regular session on 7-8 March in Mexico City.
On 7 March, the public is invited to attend an important joint meeting of JPAC and the CEC Expert Advisory Board on Children's Health and the Environment in North America to comment on the draft the cooperative agenda for better protecting the health of children from environmental threats.
On the morning of 8 March, the public is invited to attend the JPAC deliberations as observers. JPAC will hold its regular session to discuss several issues, including potential advice to Council on Children's Health and the Environment in North America, the evolving North American electricity market, matters related to Articles 14 and 15, NAFEC, and the next Council Session in June 2002. At the conclusion of the meeting, observers will have an opportunity to make comments.
In the afternoon, JPAC, the CEC Alternate Representatives and the CEC Executive Director will hold an informal and private meeting on issues related to the Commission.
Registration and financial assistance
Registration is free and on a first-come, first-served basis. The agenda of the joint meeting on Children's Health on 7 March will available soon. For the moment, you can find the agenda for the JPAC regular session of 8 March on the CEC web site, <http://www.cec.org>.
To confirm your attendance at these meetings, please send an e-mail to Jocelyne Morin at <jmorin@ccemtl.org>, including your name, title, organization, address, phone and fax numbers and e-mail address or complete and return the registration form that you will find on the web site. Once participants have registered, they will receive any documents relevant to these meetings.
Limited financial assistance is available for not-for-profit organizations and individuals who pre-register. Please complete the appropriate section of the registration form. The deadline to submit a request for financial assistance is 1 February 2002.
The CEC was established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to build cooperation among the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners in implementing NAAEC, the environmental side accord to NAFTA. The CEC addresses environmental issues of continental concern, with particular attention to the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade.
JPAC is a 15-member, independent, volunteer body that provides advice and public input to Council on any matter within the scope of NAAEC.
For more information on these meetings, please contact:
Manon Pepin
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
393, rue St-Jacques Ouest, Bureau 200
Montréal (Québec) Canada H2Y 1N9
Tel: (514) 350-4300; Fax: (514) 350-4314
E-mail: mpepin@ccemtl.org
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