NEW CEC VIDEO: Using the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Submissions on Enforcement Matters Process
Montreal, 14 January 2016—Today, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) released a short video that describes the Submissions on Enforcement Matters (SEM) process established under Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). The SEM process allows residents of Canada, Mexico and the United States to submit their environmental enforcement concerns to the CEC by making an assertion that one or more of those three countries is failing to effectively enforce its environmental law.
The animated video highlights the main components of the SEM process, a non-adversarial mechanism that promotes public participation, information-sharing between governments and the public, and transparency and openness in the effective enforcement of environmental law in North America.
If you have reason to believe that an environmental law is not being effectively enforced, you can raise your concern through the CEC’s SEM process.
To learn more about the CEC’s SEM process, view our video via the hyperlink below and visit http://www.cec.org/sem-submissions/sem.
The CEC SEM Process
The CEC Submissions on Enforcement Matters process supports public participation, information-sharing between governments and the public, and transparency and openness in the effective enforcement of environmental law in North America. If you have reason to believe that an environmental law is not being effectively enforced by Canada, Mexico or the United States, the SEM process may address your concerns.
As of 1 July 2020, the CEC’s SEM process is governed by USMCA Articles 24.27 and 24.28 of the Environment Chapter of the free trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States (CUSMA, T-MEC, USMCA).
Want to learn more about the SEM process? Please watch this two-minute video for an introduction: