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Sound Management of Chemicals

Sound Management of Chemicals . Executive Director’s Overview. Sound Management of Chemicals Working Group and Stakeholders San Antonio, Texas March 31, 2009. Commission for Environmental Cooperation. CEC Chemicals Program. Three National Environment Ministers.

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Sound Management of Chemicals

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  1. Sound Management of Chemicals Executive Director’s Overview Sound Management of Chemicals Working Group and Stakeholders San Antonio, Texas March 31, 2009 Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  2. CEC Chemicals Program Three National Environment Ministers Commission for Environmental Cooperation Joint Public Advisory Committee Trade and Environment Chemicals Program Biodiversity Sound Management of Chemicals Monitoring and Assessing Pollutants Across NA Hazardous Waste and Enforcement SEM Unit NARAPs SCC PRTR, Air Quality NA Atlas, SoE Communications Implementation New Directions Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  3. North American Environmental Strategy Development Today • Turbulence, uncertainty predominate • Conflicting priorities for government • Climate change, economic crisis, energy issues • Currently no clear vision • Need to be alert for changing agendas • Identify and seize opportunities • Understand trade implications • Partner with global priorities • Reality check… no job, no money, no home • Does human health/environment become less • of a priority? Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  4. Questions Shaping Today’s Environmental Agenda Priority One: Economy/Energy/Climate Economic Stimulus/Energy/Climate Change Impact on environmental priorities? Can “green” survive? US and Canada bilateral priority: How will energy supply (oil sands/coal) and carbon challenges emerge? Role for trilateral cooperation agendas? Ambitious goals to reduce GHG by 2020 Opportunities for regional cooperation, policy coordination? Post-Kyoto regime Role for market-based strategies? Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  5. Questions Shaping Today’s Environmental Agenda Secondary Priority? Environment/Sustainability • Free trade and the environment • What are implications of re-opening • NAFTA/NAAEC? • Global conventions and agreements • Does NA environmental management have • a role? • CEC’s role in capacity building • Can capacity building be sustained? • Capacity building beyond technical to strategic • North American (chemical) security • What role does the trilateral initiative have? • SPP’s Statement of Intent on Chemicals Cooperation • CEC SMOC as a delivery tool Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  6. Possible Directions for the CEC • 1. Engage in the process of closing the 2005-2010 cycle. • 2. Focus on benefits for Small and Medium Enterprises • greening industrial processes • energy efficiency, and • life-cycle approach • with a perspective on the competitiveness of NA • Re-evaluate capacity building efforts and • incorporate a regional perspective. • 4. Expert’s participation in strategic considerations • in line with regional/global challenges • in coordination with global directions for the CEC Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  7. CEC Initiatives • 1. Assist the Parties in formulating a strong political message • on NAFTA and the Environment • on regional risk reduction • on extra-regional influence (GRULAC) • 2. Explore, with Party experts, opportunities to align CEC • with Economic stimulus packages • with climate change priorities • with energy agenda • 3. Re-kindle opportunities on environmental health of children • 4. Actively pursue public participation • as an asset to constructing a NA view • including the SEM process. Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  8. The Legacy of the CEC’s SMOC Program • Provides validated information for appropriate decisions • Emphasizing sustained infrastructure • Opens door for establishing and maintaining regional centers of excellence (GRULAC, UNEP) • Inter/intra laboratory validation and certification (ISO17025) • Scientific credibility • Support from outside funding for sustainability • Case study for other regional/global initiatives • OECD, SAICM, UNEP, GRULAC • GLBTS, La Paz, New England/Eastern Canada agenda • Outstanding successes of NARAPs Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  9. CEC SMOC ProgramThe Next Generation • Foundation development with a finite life span • encourage sustainable infrastructure for NA priorities • Strategic linkages with other regional/global chemical management initiatives • SAICM, OECD, REACH • Pre-empt reactive mode for chemical risk management • monitor and assess for prevention • Promote the “green” agenda for sectors • use economic stimulus as catalyst • Academic and officials exchange programs Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  10. Muchas Gracias Merci Thank you Felipe Adrián Vázquez-Gálvez avazquez@cec.org Commission for Environmental Cooperation

  11. Three countries. One environment. © Commission for Environmental Cooperation / 2009

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