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

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?

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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?

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Post-Kyoto regime

Role for market-based strategies?

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

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 3.

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

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.

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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

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CEC SMOC Program The 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

Muchas Gracias Merci Thank you

Felipe Adrián Vázquez-Gálvez

[email protected] Commission for Environmental Cooperation

© Commission for Environmental Cooperation / 2009

Three countries. One environment

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