Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Three Countries.Three Countries.

One Environment.One Environment.

• Open economy• Open economy

In North AmericaIn North America

• 400 million people

• Shared ecosystem

– Transboundary flow of air, water, species

• 400 million people

• Shared ecosystem

– Transboundary flow of air, water, species

– $11 trillion goods/services

– NAFTA – doubled trade since 1993

– $11 trillion goods/services

– NAFTA – doubled trade since 1993

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

• Canada, Mexico, United States created CEC to better protect our shared environment

• North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation – parallel agreement to NAFTA

CEC Mission

Cooperation, public participation to foster conservation, protection, and enhancement of the environment…

… In the context of increasing economic and trade links

Children’s Health and the Environment Initiative

• Initiated in 2000 following North American symposium

• Initial focus, as defined by Council, on: asthma and respiratory disease, the effects of lead and other toxic chemicals, waterborne diseases

• Guided by Cooperative Agenda for Children’s Health and the Environment in North America

Children’s Health and the Environment Initiative

• Expert Advisory Board on Children’s Health and the Environment - provides advice to Council

• Trilateral Children’s Environmental Health Team - advances implementation of Council priorities

Cooperative Agenda for Children’s Health and the Environment in North America

• Adopted by CEC Council in June 2002

• Serves as blueprint for trilateral action to advance the protection of children from environmental threats to their health

• Developed with the involvement of environment and health officials and the public

• Intended as a “living” document to be reviewed and updated bi-annually

Cooperative Agenda Projects

• Development of Indicators of Children’s Health and the Environment

• Economic Valuation of Children’s Environment-Related Illnesses– first report on asthma and respiratory diseases

• North American Workshop on Risk Assessment and Children’s Environmental Health

Cooperative Agenda Projects

• Education and training of Health Care Professionals

• Market study to foster the shift to lead-free pottery in Mexico

• Trilateral workshop on lead in consumer projects, Fall 2003

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

www.cec.org

Potential for Collaboration

1. Exchange of ideas2. Adoption of principles3. Endorsement of programs4. Research & education

COLABORACION

FORTALEZA

PODER