The Council, the governing body of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), is composed of the environment ministers (or the equivalent) of each country. It meets at least once a year to discuss CEC programs and activities. The current Council includes Canadian Environment Minister Jim Prentice; Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, the Mexican Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat); and Administrator Lisa P. Jackson of the US Environmental Protection Agency.

• Council Members
• Council Resolutions
• Council Sessions


• Other advisory groups

- National Advisory Committees (NAC)

- Governmental Advisory Committees (GAC)

• Council Communiqués
• Council Rules of procedures

Alternate Representatives

In accordance with Article 9 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), each Council member appoints a designee, called an Alternate Representative. Alternate Representatives have full authority to act in all matters within the competence of the ministers (or the equivalent) to ensure implementation of the NAAEC, including the approval of the CEC Program Plan.

General Standing Committee

In their various duties, the Alternate Representatives are assisted by the General Standing Committee (GSC), composed of one representative from each country, which acts as first point of contact between the CEC Secretariat and the governments to ensure timely follow-up of Secretariat requirements for information and/or action.