Our Impact

Advancing environmental cooperation and making our communities and economies more resilient

In the course of CEC’s commitment to protecting the North American environment and supporting communities, our impact includes the following:

• Since 1995, we have managed more than C$98,000,000 in funding for cooperative projects and initiatives in North America.

• Since 1994, we have implemented over 220 projects and initiatives through our cooperative work program. Our projects have focused on, among other things, climate adaptation and mitigation, tracking and addressing pollutants of concern, promoting sustainable and circular economies, protecting species, and enhancing the health and well-being of people and ecosystems.

• We have also proudly supported 350 projects through our grant programs, totaling more than C$27,000,000 in funding: 196 by the North American Fund for Environmental Cooperation (NAFEC) that ran from 1996 to 2003, 54 projects supported by the EJ4Climate Grant Program from 2021to 2025 and 100 projects funded by the NAPECA Grant Program.

Promoting transparency in the effective enforcement of environmental law

To promote transparency in the effective enforcement of environmental law, the CEC has (as of October 2025) accomplished the following:

• We have administered 116 Submissions on Enforcement Matters (SEM), received since 1995. These submissions reflect the diverse concerns of people across North America. These submissions include 34 concerning Canada, 66 concerning Mexico, 14 concerning the United States and two concerning both Canada and the United States. Explore the Registry of Submissions here.
• We have closed 107 Submissions, demonstrating our shared commitment to conduct a review of submissions and implement the SEM process.
• We have produced 29 Factual Records, showcasing our commitment to thorough investigations and transparency in environmental matters.

Enhancing public participation and engagement across North America

To enhance diverse and inclusive public participation and engagement, CEC actions have been as follows:

• Since 1995, the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) has hosted over 90 sessions, forums and public consultations to gather public input and connect experts on North America’s most pressing environmental challenges. Based on public input, JPAC has submitted more than 130 Advice to Council on a wide range of environmental issues, thereby strengthening the work of the CEC.
• Since 1995, the CEC Secretariat has overseen more than 500 knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives, activities and events, including: forums, roundtables, field trips, mentorships, webinars, conferences, workshops and expert advice sessions.
• Since 2017, through its youth engagement efforts, the CEC has provided more than C$270,000 to support close to 30 youth-led environmental solutions, through the Youth Innovation Challenge and the Generation of Environmental Leaders Program (GELP).
• The CEC maintains a direct relationship with a network of more than 13,000 actively engaged actors and collaborators from all sectors of society.

Increasing partnerships and collaborative efforts on environmental issues and solutions

In order to increase collaborative efforts on environmental issues and solutions in North America and globally, the CEC partners and collaborates with various organizations and entities. Learn more about collaborators and partners here.

• Over the years, the CEC managed over 360 collaborative efforts with individuals, experts, organizations and institutions, to create awareness campaigns, outreach efforts, webinars and conferences with collaborators from all sectors of society.
• As an example, in 2024, these activities allowed the CEC and its partners to expand their reach and engage with more than 3,000 North American organizations, institutions, experts and individuals.

Building a diverse North American environmental community

The CEC is proud to foster strong engagement across diverse sectors, including with students, academia, non-governmental organizations, consultants, the private sector, international organizations and governments at every level.

The CEC maintains consistent communication with the North American public through its website, newsletter, media relations and regular social media messaging across 11 platforms, ensuring transparent, trilingual and timely communication about our trilateral work. These communication tools and platforms reach millions of North Americans every year.