Three countries working together to protect our shared environment

International collaboration between Canada, Mexico and the United States on environmental issues of common interest

In the Spotlight

Our Impact

Explore how the CEC’s work over the years has delivered tangible environmental and social outcomes across North America — from scientific studies that guided environmental standards, regulations and policies in Canada, Mexico and the United-States, to trinational conservation strategies, community grants and geospatial mapping projects. Whether you’re a policymaker, conservation expert, researcher or simply interested in North American environmental cooperation, this page offers a comprehensive overview of not only what the CEC has achieved — but how and why those efforts have unfolded.

Our Impact

Topics

Featured Project

Using the World Cup and Large-Scale Events to Raise Awareness About the Importance of Reducing Food Waste

2025 Active Sustainable Living and Economies

Large public events (such as sports games, music concerts, and cultural celebrations that may take place at stadiums or other public gathering spaces) offer a unique opportunity for both promoting awareness of wasted food and engaging and activating a diverse crowd that might not have felt compelled to act on...

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Featured Publication

Long-term Impact Assessment of the Sound Management of Hazardous Waste Work (1996–2014)

May 5, 2025 2 pages Pollutants

CEC’s work on hazardous waste management spanned 18 years and included the following initiatives:

  • Training and consolidating information-sharing among customs agencies regarding the illegal trade in environmentally regulated hazardous waste materials;
  • Creating a series of comprehensive documents detailing the laws, regulations, trade patterns and enforcement experiences applicable to particular sectors;
  • Developing technical guidelines and compiling best practices for the environmentally sound management of selected end-of-life vehicle batteries, including spent lead-acid batteries (SLABs).

In 2018, the CEC commissioned a report to assess the long-term impact of the CEC’s hazardous waste management projects implemented between 1996 and 2014. The assessment concluded
that these projects yielded several outcomes

The first series of projects on hazardous waste management were carried out as part of the environmental law enforcement work of the CEC between 1996 and 2009, and were designed to expedite the movement of legal materials across borders. They also included efforts to improve enforcement capacity to counter the illegal shipment of hazardous waste and materials, ozone-depleting substances, protected species and wildlife, or other illegal materials that could threaten human health or the environment in the territories of the NAFTA Parties.

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Sound Management

What We Do

We conduct research, provide tools and training, and provide a unique space for decision-makers and the public to engage on environmental policy issues affecting the North American region.