In the Spotlight
CEC Publishes Factual Record on the Effective Enforcement of Environmental Law Regarding the North Atlantic Right Whale Submission
Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), 6 January 2026—On 19 December 2025, the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) published the factual record regarding submission SEM-21-003 (North Atlantic right whale) filed by Oceana (“Submitter”), who asserted that the United States is failing to effectively enforce its environmental laws to protect the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) from collisions with ships, known as “vessel strikes,” and from entanglement in commercial fishing gear.
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
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
Resilience of Indigenous Peoples Traditional Food Systems
2024 Active Ecosystems
Featured Publication
Milestone Study on Paper Waste Management in the US and Canada — Full Report
August 2, 2024 143 pages Sustainable Living and Economies
The CEC has commissioned this series of three milestone studies as part of its “Transforming Recycling and Solid Waste Management in North America” project, with the goal of supporting Canada, Mexico and the United States in their efforts to promote circular economy and sustainable materials management approaches to encourage eco-design and increase product and material reuse, recovery and recycling rates.
These studies aim for better understanding of the opportunities in the recycling sector and secondary material markets for plastics, paper and bioplastics waste. These studies focus on Canada and the United States, and a separate set of studies focused on Mexico will be available in the coming months. Building on the results of these milestone studies and on input by key actors, a joint pilot project is currently underway in Canada and the United States with the purpose of assessing the feasibility of innovative technologies, policies and practices that can be adopted at scale across North America.
The complete report is available in English only, but you can consult the executive summary in English, Spanish, and French.
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2026 Legal Internships
Internship Opportunities
Deadline: January 31, 2026 5:00pm
Stipend: C$3,500 (Canadian dollars).
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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.