In the Spotlight
Every Observation Matters!
The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is a community science initiative open to anyone in North America. Each year, the Monarch Blitz takes place over a 10-day period, starting on the last Friday of July and ending on the Sunday of the following week.
Supporting emissions reduction and helping communities adapt to extreme weather events
The pursuit of environmental justice (EJ) aims to address historical inequities, marginalization and discrimination in how environmental benefits and burdens are enjoyed or suffered by certain communities.
Working with communities to conserve and restore North America's terrestrial and marine ecosystems and priority species
Supporting enforcement and compliance with domestic environmental law and with multilateral environmental agreements
Advancing the sustainability of our economic activities and life choices by identifying and fostering alternatives that effectively integrate the environmental, social and economic dimensions for a just and resilient North America. Our work is organized around four main areas:
Promoting clean air, water and land through prevention, reductions, and sound management of pollutant releases, toxic chemicals and hazardous waste
Over the years, the CEC has been committed to youth engagement and the efforts supported have provided youth with opportunities to raise awareness, provide tangible, sustainable, and innovative solutions for environmental issues in their communities, and influence CEC’s strategies, projects, and initiatives.
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) recognizes the essential role that Indigenous Peoples and local communities play in environmental stewardship across Turtle Island, Madre Tierra, also known as North America.
The private sector plays a critical role in driving economic prosperity, innovation and sustainable development.
Featured Project
Providing access to affordable, reliable and clean energy for all is a global challenge. Advancements in renewable energy sources and enabling technologies (e.g., storage), as well as their decentralized nature, represent available and realistic options for supplying access to low-cost and sustainable electricity in remote communities. Under this initiative, the...
Featured Publication
North American Environmental Law and Policy, Volume 36
On 26 June 2017, Environmental Defence Canada and the Natural Resources Defense Council (based in the United States), along with Canadian resident Daniel T’seleie (the “Submitters”), filed SEM-17-001 (Alberta Tailings Ponds II) (hereinafter the “Submission”) with the Secretariat. The Submitters assert that the Government of Canada (“Canada”) is failing to enforce the pollution prevention provisions of the federal Fisheries Act with respect to alleged leaking of deleterious substances, and specifically oil sands processed water (OSPW), from tailings ponds of oil sands operations in northeastern Alberta. On 20 August 2018 in Council Resolution 18-01, the CEC Council unanimously instructed the Secretariat to develop a factual record for submission SEM-17-001 (see paragraphs 6-24, below).
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.