Spent lead-acid batteries (SLABs) are one of the largest sources of lead for industrial reuse in North America, but their recycling can release toxic emissions if not managed properly. Previous work by the CEC has helped identify levels of environmental and health protection, as well as regulatory frameworks across the region. In 2015 and 2016, […]
Large public events (such as sports games, music concerts, and cultural celebrations that may take place at stadiums or other public gathering spaces) offer a unique opportunity for both promoting awareness of wasted food and engaging and activating a diverse crowd that might not have felt compelled to act on the issue before. Furthermore, large-scale […]
North America is experiencing a diverse array of socio-environmental and economic challenges due to ecosystem degradation and climate change. These challenges disproportionately affect systemically vulnerable communities, including Indigenous communities and minority groups. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach that recognizes the region’s economic, ecological, cultural and social diversity. Sustainable long-term solutions are often developed […]
The CEC Council has acknowledged the importance to further build upon the success of past CEC FLW projects, and continue to demonstrate CEC leadership and visibility to support FLW reduction in North America. Given this, the CEC continues its work on a new project with a focus on developing new and relevant material, while assisting […]
Linear models of economic production and consumption place a high demand on natural resources and accelerate environmental degradation. This in turn translates into increased business risks through higher costs, as well as supply uncertainties and disruptions. In CEC’s 2021–2025 Strategic Plan, the Parties acknowledged that: “Shifting toward sustainable production and consumption patterns is about improving […]
Illegal logging, and the trade in illegally logged timber, is a domestic, regional, and global issue. It has negative economic, environmental, and social impacts, including—but not limited to—forest degradation, loss of traditional homelands for Indigenous and tribal communities, and the creation of unfair market conditions that disadvantage legal and sustainable sources of wood and wood […]
The initiative Reaching Horizon 2030: An Environmental Outlook for North American Cooperation (H-2030) will assess significant environmental challenges to 2030 that can be addressed through the CEC, providing critical information and input for the development of the CEC Strategic Plan 2026–2030. The H-2030 report to be developed through this initiative will also serve as a […]
Providing access to affordable, reliable and clean energy for all is a global challenge. Advancements in renewable energy sources and enabling technologies (e.g., storage), as well as their decentralized nature, represent available and realistic options for supplying access to low-cost and sustainable electricity in remote communities. Under this initiative, the CEC in collaboration with the […]
A fundamental assumption in a circular economy is that materials re-introduced within value chains are safe for human health and the environment. However, when chemical composition data and/or industry awareness of the chemicals in products are lacking, this poses challenges to identifying risks to human health and the environment from any intentional and non-intentional chemicals […]
Innovation centers play a key role in sustainable economic development and job creation within and beyond the communities they serve. A key feature of the innovation centers is to provide inclusive and equal access to students and the public to capitalize on training, tools and resources for innovation, sustainable design, entrepreneurship, and business development and […]
Pursuant to relevant regulations, Canada, Mexico and the United States control the import and export of hazardous wastes by exchanging notice and consent prior to shipping these wastes across their borders. In the context of CEC´s 2019-2020 Operational Plan, the CEC supported the countries to update their Notice and Consent Electronic Data Exchange (NCEDE) system […]
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 each year—across the food supply chain, including in pre-harvest and consumer sectors. Disposal of food waste in landfills produces methane, a powerful […]
