Media Release

Boston, MA, 15 July 2015—North American communities that are on the front lines of managing excess stormwater flows need strong engagement from governments and civil society to develop and implement sustainable solutions to this widespread problem, the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) said on Tuesday at the committee’s second session of 2015.

“Green infrastructure and better land-use planning not only mitigate excess stormwater effects, but can also bring considerable environmental, social and economic benefits,” said Gustavo Alanís-Ortega, JPAC chair, who hosted the one-day meeting.

“We also know that it is equally important to promote local community engagement in the adoption of innovative, practical and environmentally sustainable solutions through better public education and participation on the issue.”

The JPAC session, a forum devoted to the topic, Water and Climate Change: Adaptation through Green Infrastructure, was held in Boston in conjunction with the 22nd Regular Session of the CEC’s governing Council, which is composed of the cabinet-level environment ministers from Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The Council meets each year to discuss its agenda for environmental cooperation in North America under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). JPAC is composed of 15 citizens, five from each country. It advises the Council and ensures public participation, openness and transparency in the actions of the CEC.

“The steps we take now will help future generations,” Alanís-Ortega said. “At our forum, we heard that one of the first steps policy makers should take is to properly assess how vulnerable our communities are to the damaging effects of excess stormwater. It is imperative that we act on the underlying causes of excess stormwater events, namely climate change.”

At the JPAC forum, members of the public convened with experts from nongovernmental organizations, government, academia and industry to discuss how green infrastructure and land-use planning can be vital tools for communities to use in adapting to changing climate and excess stormwater.

Participants heard that urban, rural and remote communities are equally at risk from excess stormwater and that urgent action is needed to implement workable remedies.

In urban areas, practical solutions to mitigating excess stormwater flows include incentives for low-impact residential and commercial real estate development, the construction of streets that allow stormwater to disperse better through the local environment rather than run off, and the dedication of public green space that enhances the restoration of local wetlands and habitats.

In rural or remote communities, simple, small-scale installations that strengthen the natural habitat’s ability to reabsorb excess stormwater are favored over the construction of large artificial basins that recapture water.

Conference participants were also reminded of the importance of incorporating traditional ecological knowledge from indigenous communities into an all-encompassing approach to considering green solutions to the problems presented by excessive stormwater flows.

The panel discussions at the JPAC meeting were also webcast live from Boston. A recording of the webcast and background material, such as presentations and biographies, will be available soon on the CEC’s website.

The next JPAC public meeting will be held in on 5-6 November in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

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