Advice to Council 98-01 — Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
DISTRIBUTION: General
J/98-01/ADV/Rev.3
ORIGINAL: English
Re: Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)
The Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation:
IN ACCORDANCE with the request of Council, has reviewed the CEC’s Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 at its meeting of 22-23 January 1998; and,
NOTING the Secretariat’s efforts to (1) advance individual projects based on concrete results, (2) focus on the mandate of the CEC and (3) link projects as results emerge;
HEREBY RESOLVES that the JPAC’s advice to Council on the CEC’s Proposed Annual Program and Budget for 1998 is as follows:
The JPAC
Notes with satisfaction progress toward a more focused and results-oriented program and recommends that:
- projects be bilateral or trilateral in character and visible to stakeholders, both in their conduct and outputs;
- the CEC highlight impacts on human health, with an emphasis on indigenous peoples when implementing the 1998 Program;
- the CEC should act on the resolutions of the Kyoto Conference of Climate Change; and
- the Parties should commit themselves to achieve the level of funding initially agreed upon (US$5 million/year from each party, including the NAFEC).
With regard to 1998 priorities, JPAC further recommends:
- that funding be assured for undertaking one Article 13 Report, the initial review of all Article 14 submissions and full review to factual record of two Article 14 submissions;
- that priority projects which are on-going (e.g., transboundary water and air, joint implementation), be clearly referenced in the Introduction of the Annual Program and be listed in the “Annual Program at a Glance” section;
- that strong support be given for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment (TEIA) negotiations between the Parties and that transparency and wide participation of stakeholders in both assessment and dispute resolution be assured;
- that the Environment, Economy and Trade program be given priority by supporting phase III of the project 98.01.01, “NAFTA Environmental Effects” and by launching a multi-year group of high priority projects to implement the program, focused on:
a) an activity to facilitate Joint Implementation as a follow-up to the Kyoto Conference on Climate Change,
b) the development of cooperation and information exchange on vehicle emission programs,
c) contributing to the pursuit of ‘state-of -the-art; sustainable, organic agriculture’;
- that within Project 98.03.01, “Sound Management of Chemicals,” the existing North American Regional Action Plans (NARAPs) be implemented, and further recommends that advice from NGOs continue to be considered in the selection of new candidate substances;
- that Project 98.03.03, “North American Pollutant Release and Transfer Register(NA‑PRTR),” keep non-point data and resulting inventories separate from point source data and inventories. Further, efforts should be made to better report progress and change from year-to-year;
- that strong support be given for environmental education. (However with regard to project 98.04.03, “Environmental Education” every effort should be made to identify existing initiatives with similar objectives, develop linkages with those initiatives in order to avoid overlap and duplication of efforts, particularly in curriculum development. Further, consideration should be given to developing a broad, inclusive definition of sustainable development, one that is sensitive to cultural diversity particularly with regards to indigenous peoples and small communities);
- that in view of minimum funding levels, Enforcement Cooperation and Law projects (98.05.01 to 98.05.05) should be encouraged to focus on areas of bilateral or trilateral impact or cooperation;
- that the methods and speed of compilation and distribution of the detailed annual report of Enforcement Obligations be made with clear regard to consultation and transparency; and
- that support for initiatives to facilitate the effective and environmentally appropriate management of hazardous wastes (98.05.03) continue to be supported.
With regard to the budget, JPAC recommends:
- that the funding for Description Budget no. 3.5, “JPAC Operations Budget,” be increased to US$140,000 in order to implement the 1998 priorities (see Attached) and
- that the funding for Description Budget no. 3.6, “Public Meetings,” be reduced to US$90,000, an amount the JPAC considers adequate to implement the plan for public.
| DATE/LOCATION
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PRIORITIES IDENTIDIED IN DECEMBER 1997 |
ACTIONS PROPOSED |
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22-23 January Montreal, Quebec |
JPAC Working Group: M. C. Castro, M. Simon, J. Wirth
JPAC Working Group: P. Berle, J. Bustamante, M. Simon |
Advice 98-01: 1998 CEC Program and Budget Advice 98-02: NAFEC Evaluation |
|
March 1998 Via e-mail |
JPAC Working Group: M. Apsey, J. Bustamante, J. Wirth |
|
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[6-7-8 May 1998 El Paso/Juarez] (*) |
JPAC Working Group: M. C. Castro, M. Cloghesy, J. Plaut
JPAC Working Group: I. Restrepo, J. Richardson, M. Simon Advice to Council to ensure that human health aspects are taken into account in all CEC Program Areas. J. Richardson, an American and a Canadian
JPAC Working Group: P. Berle, M. C. Castro, M. Cloghesy
JPAC Working Group: P. Berle, J. Bustamante, J. Gérin Advice to Council on how to assure compliance with decisions during the Kyoto Conference on Climatic Change held in December 1997.
Advice to Council |
Advice 98-04: Environment, Economy and Trade Advice 98-05: Kyoto Conference on Climatic Change Advice 98-06: Guidelines for Submissions on Enforcement Matters under Articles 14 and 15 of the NAAEC Advice 98-07: Equity Criteria |
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DATE/LOCATION |
PRIORITIES IDENTIDIED IN DECEMBER 1997 |
ACTIONS PROPOSED |
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[24-25-26] June 1998 Mérida, Yucatán Council Annual Session |
JPAC Working Group: M. C. Castro, J. Gérin, J. Plaut Note: The CEC will offer financial assistance for travel to qualifying participants registered to attend this public meeting. This financial assistance will help to ensure that a broad cross-section of North American interests are represented at this session. Special attention should be addressed to grass roots organisations and local communities with an emphasis on indigenous communities. (*) |
I- Environment, Economy and Trade II- Biodiversity and Ecosystems III- Pollutants and Health IV- Capacity Building and Education V- Enforcement Cooperation and Law
Report on workshops outcome on the CEC programs Report on JPAC current actions and activities
Advice 98-08: CEC Program and Budget for 1999-2000 |
|
[24-25 September 1998 Yellowknife, North West Territories] (*) |
JPAC Working Group: J. Richardson, an Mexican member and a Canadian member
JPAC Working Group: To be identified |
Advice 98-09: Mercury related Studies Advice 98-10: CEC Proposed Program and Budget for 1999 from the Secretariat Preparation of JPAC 1999-2000 Strategic Action Plan |
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[2-3 December 1998 Washington, DC] (*) |
JPAC Working Group: J. Richardson, an Mexican member and a Canadian member
JPAC Working Group: M. Cloghesy, J. Wirth, a Mexican member |
Advice 98-11: Continental Pollutant Pathways Advice 98-12: Transportation |
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DATE/LOCATION |
PRIORITIES IDENTIDIED IN DECEMBER 1997 |
ACTIONS PROPOSED |
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JPAC Internal Work For 1998 |
Note: Special attention should be addressed to grass roots organisations and local communities with an emphasis on indigenous communities. |
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* Project should be confirmed in function of the 1998 Proposed Program and Budget
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Description |
Proposed for 1998 US$ |
|
Travel & Accommodation / Translator Services (Including Meals and Per diem Allocation) |
89 000 |
|
Regular Session 98-01: 22-23 January, Montreal, Quebec |
10 000 |
|
Regular Session 98-02: [6-8 May, El Paso/Juárez] (*) |
20 000 |
|
Regular Session 98-03: [24-26] June, Mérida, Yucatán |
20 000 |
|
Regular Session 98-04: [24-25 September, Yellowknife, North West Territories] (*) |
20 000 |
|
Regular Session 98-05: [2-3 December, Washington, DC] (*) |
17 000 |
|
Chairperson: Various Meetings |
2 000 |
|
Interpretation & Equipment / General Translator Services |
24 000 |
|
Five Regular Sessions (excluding the JPAC Session in conjunction of the Council Annual Meeting) |
20 000 |
|
Translator Services |
4 000 |
|
Professional Services |
24 000 |
|
Consultant |
0 |
|
Technical Support to the Chair |
24 000 |
|
Parcel Service / Office Supplies |
1 500 |
|
Parcel Services |
1 000 |
|
Office Supplies |
500 |
|
Hospitality |
500 |
|
Various |
1 000 |
|
TOTAL |
140 000 |
NOTE: JPAC Operations Budget approved by the Council in 1997 was US$ 100 000.
* Date and location should be confirmed in function of the 1998 Proposed Program and Budget