Commission for Environmental Cooperation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Abbreviation	CEC CCA CCE
Formation	1994
Headquarters	700 de la Gauchetière St. West, Suite 1620
Location	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Membership	Canada  Mexico  United States
Executive Director	Jorge Daniel Taillant

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is an important group that helps Canada, Mexico, and the United States work together on environmental issues. It was created in 1994 alongside a big trade agreement called the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The CEC's main goal is to make sure that as trade and economies grow in North America, the environment is also protected and improved for everyone, now and in the future.

How the CEC Started and Works

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation was set up in 1994. This happened when Canada, Mexico, and the United States signed an agreement called the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). This agreement was created at the same time as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It showed that these countries wanted to protect the environment while also increasing trade and economic growth.

The CEC was the first international environmental group created alongside a trade agreement. It is the only organization whose job is to watch how trade affects the environment in North America.

The CEC has three main parts that work together: the Council, the Secretariat, and the Joint Public Advisory Committee.

The CEC Council: Leaders of Environmental Protection

The Council is the main decision-making body of the CEC. It is made up of the top environmental leaders from each country. These are the Minister of Environment and Climate Change from Canada, the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources from Mexico, and the Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The Council meets at least once a year. They decide on the CEC's overall plans, including its budget and what projects it will work on. They also meet with the public to hear their ideas.

CEC Council Members
Country	Representative	Title
Canada	Steven Guilbeault	Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Mexico	María Luisa Albores	Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
United States	Michael S. Regan	Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

The Secretariat: Making Things Happen

The CEC Secretariat is located in Montreal, Canada. This team carries out the projects and plans that the Council approves. They also handle reports from people who think a country isn't enforcing its environmental laws.

Joint Public Advisory Committee: Your Voice Matters

The Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) is made up of 15 regular citizens, five from each country. JPAC gives advice to the Council on any environmental matter related to the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation. They also help the CEC Secretariat by providing information.

These volunteers come from different backgrounds and bring many ideas. In 2015, the CEC also created a group of experts on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). This group helps the CEC use traditional knowledge to protect the environment.

Working Together on Environmental Projects

The CEC has a plan called the Strategic Plan that guides its work. The current plan (2015–2020) focuses on three main areas:

• Dealing with Climate change
• Promoting "Green Growth" (economic growth that is good for the environment)
• Creating Sustainable Communities and Ecosystems

Every two years, the CEC creates an Operational Plan. This plan explains how they will achieve their goals through specific projects and initiatives. It also shows the budget for these activities.

Helping Communities with Environmental Action

In 2010, the CEC started a special program called the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA). This program gives money to local communities. It helps them solve environmental problems right where they live. NAPECA supports many different types of projects. It helps smaller groups get resources and build partnerships to create sustainable communities.

Tools and Resources for Everyone

The CEC provides many useful tools and resources to help people learn about and protect the environment.

Publications: A Library of Environmental Knowledge

The CEC has an online library of all its published work. This includes reports and research on environmental policy in North America. Anyone can easily access this information.

Tracking Pollution: The Pollutant Release and Transfer Register

The North American PRTR Project collects and shares information about pollution. It tracks toxic substances released by over 35,000 factories in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This data comes from each country's own pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR).

The main results of this project are Taking Stock Online and the annual Taking Stock report. Taking Stock Online is a website with a searchable database. You can explore information about pollution from factories across North America. You can also create charts and download data.

Mapping the Environment: The North American Environmental Atlas

The North American Environmental Atlas is a collection of maps and data. It combines information from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This allows people to see environmental issues that cross borders, like air pollution or animal habitats.

Scientists and map makers from different agencies in each country create this information. The maps, data, and files are available online for free.

Reporting Environmental Law Problems

The CEC has a way for people to report if a country is not properly enforcing its environmental laws. This is done through Articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC agreement. Any person or environmental group in North America can file a report.

If a report is filed, the CEC might create a detailed report called a "factual record." Independent experts research and write these records. In the past, these reports have led to better environmental protection, changes in laws, and more money for environmental enforcement.

Here is a list of factual records published since 1996:

Special Reports from the Secretariat

Under Article 13 of the NAAEC, the CEC Secretariat can write independent reports. These reports cover any topic related to the CEC's work. They are shared with the three countries and the public. These reports can explore new issues and help guide the CEC's future projects.

Since 1994, the CEC Secretariat has published the following reports:

See also

• International Joint Commission