Reducing waste and closing material loops help minimize environmental impacts throughout the value chain of resources and products. They also present considerable economic opportunities. Circular economy strategies, including a multitude of recovery options, are estimated to unlock $4.5 trillion in economic growth around the globe. The transition to a circular economy and increased material recovery […]
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) provides crucial mechanisms to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants is carried out in a controlled manner, that does not threaten a species’ survival. CITES Appendix II covers species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but whose trade must be controlled in […]
Remote sensing applications for early warning systems and climate change monitoring play a significant role in disaster management. A number of applications exist, but providing relevant and timely geospatial information to first responders remains a challenge because of a lack of infrastructure allowing them to connect to these technologies. The objective of this project is […]
Marine litter is a global problem that affects economies, ecosystems and potentially, human health. This project builds on the low-technology approach adapted from the Trash-Free Waters framework. The project supports marine litter mitigation efforts across North America by building the capacity of decision-makers and organizations and replicating successful multi-stakeholder approaches in other communities and watersheds. […]
Innovation hubs play a key role in sustainable economic development and in the creation of jobs in their communities. These hubs provide students and the public with access to training, tools and resources for innovation and business development. They also provide an introduction to sustainable design, entrepreneurship, and sustainable innovation. To cultivate youth and community […]
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. This project is designed to update the Notice and Consent Electronic Data Exchange (NCEDE) system to facilitate the seamless exchange of notifications relative to […]
CEC work in 2017–2018 produced knowledge and resources to support a consistent regional approach to measuring food loss and waste and developing youth education tools. This project aims to test these products with the user community (businesses operating in the food sector and youth/youth organizations) to refine them, ensure they meet users’ needs, and foster […]
North American industry relies on raw materials, energy, and supply chains to produce goods. This project is a joint partnership with industry to improve energy management, efficiency, reduce energy costs, and improve competitiveness in select North American industrial sectors through adoption of the international energy management ISO 50001 standard in supply chains. The CEC engaged […]
Food loss and waste, across the entire food supply chain, is an enormous problem that affects our economy, food security and environment. Estimates drawn from the CEC foundational research on food waste calculate the annual quantities of North American food waste at greater than 168 million tonnes, and with a value of food produced but […]
The goal of this project is to identify barriers, opportunities and solutions related to increasing organic waste diversion and processing capacity in North America. The project focuses on organic waste collection/segregation and organic waste processing. In all three countries, organic waste represents a significant component of the waste stream that can be diverted from landfills […]
Maritime transport is a global industry, and North America has extensive maritime trade flows, both internally and with the rest of the world. The goal of this project is to enhance North American capacity to assess compliance with, and enforce as appropriate, the International Maritime Organization’s fuel sulfur standards, particularly those applicable in Emission Control […]
The monarch butterfly is facing serious challenges that need to be studied simultaneously along its migratory path in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Outreach and awareness issues have been identified in the CEC’s 2008 North American Monarch Conservation Plan as priority objectives to preserve this important migratory species. This project will develop a trilateral […]
