Advice to Council 98-01 — Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)

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Advice to Council 98-01 — Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 of...

DISTRIBUTION: General
J/98-01/ADV/Rev.3
ORIGINAL: English

Re: Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)

The Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation:

IN ACCORDANCE with the request of Council, has reviewed the CEC’s Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 at its meeting of 22-23 January 1998; and,

NOTING the Secretariat’s efforts to (1) advance individual projects based on concrete results, (2) focus on the mandate of the CEC and (3) link projects as results emerge;

HEREBY RESOLVES that the JPAC’s advice to Council on the CEC’s Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 is as follows:

The JPAC

Notes with satisfaction progress toward a more focused and results-oriented program and recommends that:

projects be bilateral or trilateral in character and visible to stakeholders, both in their conduct and outputs;
the CEC highlight impacts on human health, with an emphasis on indigenous peoples when implementing the 1998 Program;
the CEC should act on the resolutions of the Kyoto Conference of Climate Change; and
the Parties should commit themselves to achieve the level of funding initially agreed upon (US$5 million/year from each party, including the NAFEC).

With regard to 1998 priorities, JPAC further recommends:

that funding be assured for undertaking one Article 13 Report, the initial review of all Article 14 submissions and full review to factual record of two Article 14 submissions;
that priority projects which are on-going (e.g., transboundary water and air, joint implementation), be clearly referenced in the Introduction of the Annual Program and be listed in the “Annual Program at a Glance” section;
that strong support be given for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment (TEIA) negotiations between the Parties and that transparency and wide participation of stakeholders in both assessment and dispute resolution be assured;
that the Environment, Economy and Trade program be given priority by supporting phase III of the project 98.01.01, “NAFTA Environmental Effects” and by launching a multi-year group of high priority projects to implement the program, focused on:

a) an activity to facilitate Joint Implementation as a follow-up to the Kyoto Conference on Climate Change,
b) the development of cooperation and information exchange on vehicle emission programs,
c) contributing to the pursuit of ‘state-of -the-art; sustainable, organic agriculture’;

that within Project 98.03.01, “Sound Management of Chemicals,” the existing North American Regional Action Plans (NARAPs) be implemented, and further recommends that advice from NGOs continue to be considered in the selection of new candidate substances;
that Project 98.03.03, “North American Pollutant Release and Transfer Register(NA‑PRTR),” keep non-point data and resulting inventories separate from point source data and inventories. Further, efforts should be made to better report progress and change from year-to-year;
that strong support be given for environmental education. (However with regard to project 98.04.03, “Environmental Education” every effort should be made to identify existing initiatives with similar objectives, develop linkages with those initiatives in order to avoid overlap and duplication of efforts, particularly in curriculum development. Further, consideration should be given to developing a broad, inclusive definition of sustainable development, one that is sensitive to cultural diversity particularly with regards to indigenous peoples and small communities);
that in view of minimum funding levels, Enforcement Cooperation and Law projects (98.05.01 to 98.05.05) should be encouraged to focus on areas of bilateral or trilateral impact or cooperation;
that the methods and speed of compilation and distribution of the detailed annual report of Enforcement Obligations be made with clear regard to consultation and transparency; and
that support for initiatives to facilitate the effective and environmentally appropriate management of hazardous wastes (98.05.03) continue to be supported.

With regard to the budget, JPAC recommends:

that the funding for Description Budget no. 3.5, “JPAC Operations Budget,” be increased to US$140,000 in order to implement the 1998 priorities (see Attached) and
that the funding for Description Budget no. 3.6, “Public Meetings,” be reduced to US$90,000, an amount the JPAC considers adequate to implement the plan for public.

DATE/LOCATION

PRIORITIES IDENTIDIED IN DECEMBER 1997

ACTIONS PROPOSED

22-23 January

Montreal, Quebec

CEC Proposed Program and Budget for 1998

JPAC Working Group: M. C. Castro, M. Simon, J. Wirth

NAFEC Evaluation

JPAC Working Group: P. Berle, J. Bustamante, M. Simon

JPAC Regular Session 98-01

Advice 98-01: 1998 CEC Program and Budget

Advice 98-02: NAFEC Evaluation

March 1998

Via e-mail

CEC 1997 Annual Report

JPAC Working Group: M. Apsey, J. Bustamante, J. Wirth

JPAC Advice 98-03: CEC Draft Annual Report for 1997

[6-7-8 May 1998

El Paso/Juarez] (*)

Environment and Trade

JPAC Working Group: M. C. Castro, M. Cloghesy, J. Plaut

Human Health

JPAC Working Group: I. Restrepo, J. Richardson, M. Simon

Advice to Council to ensure that human health aspects are taken into account in all CEC Program Areas. J. Richardson, an American and a Canadian

Guidelines for Submissions on Enforcement Matters under Articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC

JPAC Working Group: P. Berle, M. C. Castro, M. Cloghesy

Kyoto Conference on Climatic Change

JPAC Working Group: P. Berle, J. Bustamante, J. Gérin

Advice to Council on how to assure compliance with decisions during the Kyoto Conference on Climatic Change held in December 1997.

Equity Criteria

Advice to Council

JPAC participation in public meeting organized in the context of the NAFTA Effect Project (*)

JPAC Regular Session 98-02

Advice 98-04: Environment, Economy and Trade

Advice 98-05: Kyoto Conference on Climatic Change

Advice 98-06: Guidelines for Submissions on Enforcement Matters under Articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC

Advice 98-07: Equity Criteria

DATE/LOCATION

PRIORITIES IDENTIDIED IN DECEMBER 1997

ACTIONS PROPOSED

[24-25-26] June 1998

Mérida, Yucatán

Council Annual Session

CEC Program and Budget for 1999-2000

JPAC Working Group: M. C. Castro, J. Gérin, J. Plaut

Note: The CEC will offer financial assistance for travel to qualifying participants registered to attend this public meeting. This financial assistance will help to ensure that a broad cross-section of North American interests are represented at this session. Special attention should be addressed to grass roots organisations and local communities with an emphasis on indigenous

communities. (*)

JPAC participation in public meeting including workshops on the five CEC program areas: (*)

I- Environment, Economy and Trade

II- Biodiversity and Ecosystems

III- Pollutants and Health

IV- Capacity Building and Education

V- Enforcement Cooperation and Law

Meeting with the Council members and JPAC members

Report on workshops outcome on the CEC programs

Report on JPAC current actions and activities

JPAC Regular Session 98-03

Advice 98-08: CEC Program and Budget for 1999-2000

[24-25 September 1998

Yellowknife, North West Territories] (*)

Mercury Related Studies

JPAC Working Group: J. Richardson, an Mexican member and a Canadian member

JPAC 1999-2000 Strategic Action Plan

JPAC Working Group: To be identified

JPAC participation in context of the workshop organized by the Mercury Task Force under the Sound Management of Chemical Project (*)

JPAC Regular Session 98-04

Advice 98-09: Mercury related Studies

Advice 98-10: CEC Proposed Program and Budget for 1999 from the Secretariat

Preparation of JPAC 1999-2000 Strategic Action Plan

[2-3 December 1998

Washington, DC] (*)

Continental Pollutant Pathways

JPAC Working Group: J. Richardson, an Mexican member and a Canadian member

Transportation

JPAC Working Group: M. Cloghesy, J. Wirth, a Mexican member

JPAC participation on the Trinational Workshop on air issues, including the production of formal proceedings. Under the Cooperation on Long Range Transport of Air Pollution in North America Project (*)

JPAC Regular Session 98-05

Advice 98-11: Continental Pollutant Pathways

Advice 98-12: Transportation

DATE/LOCATION

PRIORITIES IDENTIDIED IN DECEMBER 1997

ACTIONS PROPOSED

JPAC Internal Work

For 1998

Public Participation

Note: Special attention should be addressed to grass roots organisations and local communities with an emphasis on indigenous communities.

Public Meetings related to the CEC Projects

Council Annual Session of June

Five JPAC Regular Sessions

Information Dissemination

Dissemination to the North American Community the JPAC Advice, Summary Records

Linkages with the NACs/GACs. Send them the information about JPAC actions and invite them as guests to the JPAC Regular Sessions

Invitation the North American Community to JPAC Regular Sessions. Focus on grass roots organisations and local communities with an emphasis on indigenous communities.

* Project should be confirmed in function of the 1998 Proposed Program and Budget

Description	Proposed for 1998 US$
Travel & Accommodation / Translator Services (Including Meals and Per diem Allocation)	89 000
Regular Session 98-01: 22-23 January, Montreal, Quebec	10 000
Regular Session 98-02: [6-8 May, El Paso/Juárez] (*)	20 000
Regular Session 98-03: [24-26] June, Mérida, Yucatán	20 000
Regular Session 98-04: [24-25 September, Yellowknife, North West Territories] (*)	20 000
Regular Session 98-05: [2-3 December, Washington, DC] (*)	17 000
Chairperson: Various Meetings	2 000
Interpretation & Equipment / General Translator Services	24 000
Five Regular Sessions (excluding the JPAC Session in conjunction of the Council Annual Meeting)	20 000
Translator Services	4 000
Professional Services	24 000
Consultant	0
Technical Support to the Chair	24 000
Parcel Service / Office Supplies	1 500
Parcel Services	1 000
Office Supplies	500
Hospitality	500
Various	1 000
TOTAL	140 000

NOTE: JPAC Operations Budget approved by the Council in 1997 was US$ 100 000.

* Date and location should be confirmed in function of the 1998 Proposed Program and Budget