CEC’s Work on Stimulating Uptake of ISO 50001 Energy Efficiency Standard (2015–2018)
Between 2015 and 2018, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) implemented two projects aimed to “position ISO 50001 and the Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program as key mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy management, increase energy efficiency, reduce energy costs, and improve competitiveness in select North American industrial sectors” [CEC 2023]. Designed through a CEC-industry partnership cost-sharing strategy, the first project [Accelerating Adoption of ISO 50001 and Superior Energy Performance Program Certification in North America (2015–2016)]—was launched with a budget of C$300,000. The project focused on building capacity in three directions: establishing common requirements for Certified Practitioners in Energy Management Systems (CP EnMS), piloting an end-user cohort-training model, and developing training materials and tools.
Climate Adaptation Toolkit Training Module
This document guides MPA practitioners through a basic climate adaptation planning process using the Climate Adaptation Toolkit. The Climate Adaptation Toolkit contains tools to help MPA practitioners evaluate the vulnerability of their sites to climate change and identify appropriate adaptation strategies. The Training Module provides a framework and training exercises to support the successful use […]
CEC Policy Brief on Flood Costing
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) recognized information gaps in estimating economic impacts of floods in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It initiated in 2019 a collaborative research project, led by experts from the three countries. During 2019-2021, this project entitled “Costing Floods and Other Extreme Events” has brought together governmental agencies, academic institutions, […]
Developing a Comprehensive Methodology for Evaluating Economic Impacts of Floods in Canada, Mexico and the United States
Assessing the true economic costs of floods is central to our ability to address their impacts, allocate adequate resources for monitoring and preparedness, assess their changes in frequency and severity over time, and aid community resilience to them. Considerable variability exists in Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the choice and implementation of methods used at national and sub-national levels for estimating direct damages and indirect losses caused by floods.
Guide to Drought Indices and Indicators Used in North America
The objective of this study was to improve the ability of regional and local decision-makers and communities to monitor and prepare for drought conditions through the development of a guide to locally relevant indicators for North American climate regions. Data were collected through an online survey that asked a series of questions on respondents’ experiences with drought in their geographical areas. A key series of questions queried the effectiveness of different drought indicators. Responses were analyzed to determine—according to the survey respondents—the most effective drought indicators for short-term and long-term drought in specific North American Köppen climate zones. Online webinars in English and Spanish were held to contribute additional information.
Long-term Impact Assessment of CEC’s Work on Forest Carbon (2013–2017)
The forests of North America play an important role in the global greenhouse gas balance by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it as “forest carbon” in forest ecosystems. Between 2013 and 2017, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) invested C$770,000 in two 2-year projects focused on generating scientific information to improve our understanding […]
Long-term Impact Assessment of the North American Environmental Atlas and the North American Land Change Monitoring System (1996–2016)
Because our environment does not end at the border, the CEC has developed over the last 22 years a unique framework that harmonizes geographic information in a seamless manner across North America’s political boundaries. Its North American Environmental Atlas aims at better monitoring environmental trends and land-cover changes in the region.
Why And How To Measure Food Loss And Waste: A Practical Guide
This guide was developed as part of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Operational Plan 2017-2018 and its Measuring and Mitigating Food Loss and Waste project. The goal of the project is to improve measurement of food loss and waste (FLW) across the North American supply chain and to calculate its environmental and socioeconomic impacts. […]
Technical Report: Quantifying Food Loss and Waste and Its Impacts
Food loss and waste (FLW) is an important issue in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, where almost 170 million tonnes of the food produced for human consumption is estimated to be wasted across the supply chain (CEC 2017b), while food security and resource efficiency are considered top priorities of the national social, environmental and development policies.
Characterization and Management of Food Loss and Waste in North America
Food loss and waste (FLW) is an increasingly important issue in Canada, Mexico and the United States, where close to 170 million tonnes of food produced for human consumption are lost and wasted—across the food supply chain, including in pre-harvest and consumer sectors—each year. Food waste in landfills is a significant source of methane gas—a greenhouse gas (GHG) 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide. FLW also has environmental and socio-economic impacts, including: the inefficient use of natural resources; economic loss; biodiversity loss; and public health issues.
Characterization and Management of Food Loss and Waste in North America
Food loss and waste (FLW) is an increasingly important issue in Canada, Mexico and the United States, where close to 170 million tonnes of food produced for human consumption are lost and wasted—across the food supply chain, including in pre-harvest and consumer sectors—each year. Food waste in landfills is a significant source of methane gas—a greenhouse gas (GHG) 25 times stronger than carbon dioxide. FLW also has environmental and socio-economic impacts, including the inefficient use of natural resources, economic loss, biodiversity loss, and public health issues.
Ecosystem Function and Traditional Ecological Knowledge:
Under its 2015–2016 project, Using Ecosystem Function and Traditional Ecological Knowledge Together to Build Resilience and Adapt to Climate Change in North America, the CEC facilitated the exchange of tools, methodologies and assessments developed in Canada, Mexico and the United States to support the development of ecosystem-based, local adaptation in communities vulnerable to the effects […]