CEC hero image, a photo of Tracking Pollutant Releases and Transfers in North America

Tracking Pollutant Releases and Transfers in North America

Tracking Pollutant Releases and Transfers in North America

Along with the energy, materials and items they produce, North American industries generate pollutants that must be managed to protect human health and the environment. Each year, facilities report the amounts of substances they release to air, water, or land, send to disposal, or transfer for recycling or other management. We integrate and analyze data reported to the Canadian, Mexican and US PRTRs and make them available to the public through Taking Stock Online and the Taking Stock report series.

Tracking progress towards reducing industrial pollution to meet the UN SDGs

Countries are taking action against toxic chemicals emitted by industrial facilities to air, water and land. How can countries track progress towards this target? A recent OECD report looks at Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) data as a means to track chemical pollution to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). PRTRs are important tools that enhance the transparency and accountability of industry and measure progress towards SDG target 12.4.

Latest CEC Taking Stock report

Taking Stock, Volume 16 reveals the fate of the 5 billion kg of pollutants released or transferred in Canada, Mexico and the United States every year! Find out more about industrial pollution, and where it ends up, in our latest report featuring a special analysis of the 335 million kg transferred off-site for disposal each year. Our flagship report presents and analyzes PRTR data reported by approximately 24,000 industrial facilities across North America.

Tools and Resources

Tools and Resources

Taking Stock Volume 16

North American Pollutant Releases and Transfers, with a feature analysis of off-site transfers to disposal

CEC Tools and Resources

Mining Sector: Interactive Infographic

North American industry sectors produce the energy, materials and items that we use every day. They also generate pollutants that must be managed.

North American Environmental Atlas

The North American Environmental Atlas seamlessly assembles accurate cartographic data including maps, documentation, and interactive map layers at a scale of 1:10,000,000.

Taking Stock

Taking Stock Online

Taking Stock Online allows users to explore North American Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) data through interactive tools and comprehensive reports.

Publications

Taking Stock

137 pages July 19, 2023

Taking Stock 16

Montreal, 19 July 2023 — The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is proud to release the 2015–2020 North American...

CEC Publication Cover

7 pages July 19, 2023

Long-term Impact Assessment of the North American Pollutant Release and Transfer Register Initiative (1995–2015)

Montreal, 19 July 2023 — The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is proud to release the 2015–2020 North American...

Taking Stock 15 Publication Cover

154 pages July 19, 2023

Taking Stock 15

Montreal, 19 July 2023 — The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is proud to release the 2015–2020 North American...

CEC Publication Cover

140 pages July 19, 2023

Taking Stock 14

Montreal, 19 July 2023 — The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is proud to release the 2015–2020 North American...

CEC Publication Cover

82 pages July 19, 2023

Taking Stock 13

Montreal, 19 July 2023 — The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is proud to release the 2015–2020 North American...