In the Spotlight
Join the Monarch Blitz’s 10th Anniversary: Every Observation Matters
Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), 23 July 2026—The International Monarch Monitoring Blitz is just around the corner! From 31 July to 9 August 2026, we invite everyone across North America to head outside and search for monarch butterflies and milkweed plants.
Topics
Climate Change
Supporting emissions reduction and helping communities adapt to extreme weather events
Environmental Justice
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.
Ecosystems
Working with communities to conserve and restore North America's terrestrial and marine ecosystems and priority species
Enforcement
Supporting enforcement and compliance with domestic environmental law and with multilateral environmental agreements
Sustainable Living and Economies
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:
Pollutants
Promoting clean air, water and land through prevention, reductions, and sound management of pollutant releases, toxic chemicals and hazardous waste
Youth Engagement
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.
Indigenous Affairs
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.
Private Sector Engagement
The private sector plays a critical role in driving economic prosperity, innovation and sustainable development.
Featured Project
Transitioning Remote Communities to Renewable Energy
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
Ranchers, Producers and Landowners Perspectives on Grassland Conservation Initiatives
A Summary of Survey Efforts in Canada, Mexico and the United States
The Central Grasslands are among the largest remaining intact grasslands in North America, supporting both biodiversity and agricultural production. To ensure that the perspectives of ranchers, producers and landowners are included in conservation planning, surveys were conducted in Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2021 and 2022. This report summarizes and compares responses across the three countries, highlighting shared concerns and differences shaped by local contexts. Results emphasize that landowners view themselves as stewards of the grasslands and prefer flexible, incentive-based programs that acknowledge and reward good practices rather than apply one-size-fits-all approaches.
This report is intended for policymakers, researchers, conservation practitioners and producer organizations. It provides valuable insights into landowner engagement strategies, underscoring the importance of face-to-face communication, recognition of stewardship and social science-based approaches to design effective, locally relevant grassland conservation initiatives.
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.