Another Milestone Towards Stronger Environmental Cooperation in North America
Today the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Environment of the University of Waterloo to formalize the long-standing relationship and collaboration on sustainable solutions for complex environmental challenges.
“We are very proud of this partnership that represents a major step to empower young students to become tomorrow’s leaders of environmental change,” said Georgina O’Farrill, Outreach and Partnerships Officer at the CEC. “The signature of the memorandum showcases the value of collaborative work with those paving the way to ensure a sustainable environment for the future. We are happy that our partners at the University of Waterloo share our vision of the positive outcomes when connecting sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation.”
“For several years now, our students have already been benefitting from close collaboration between UW’s Faculty of Environment and the CEC on efforts related to environmental innovation,” said Brock Dickinson, the Faculty’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence. “From pitch competitions to training workshops to opportunities to participate in international environmental meetings and discussions, our students are involved with the CEC in many ways. Today’s signing is a demonstration of our desire to grow these opportunities in the future.”
The objective of the MoU is to recognize the need to share the mutual benefits that may be derived from coordinated actions and highlight the leading role of the Faculty of Environment of the University of Waterloo for the transition of the EcoInnovation Network to become self sustained. The University of Waterloo will host the Network until December 2023. The Memorandum will serve as a framework for promoting, developing, and coordinating activities and processes and for ensuring increased visibility of the Faculty of Environment and the CEC.
The signing of the MoU represents a success for the CEC in its objective to implement its projects in collaboration with different sectors, such as academic institutions bringing their own experts to the table to strengthen their success and impacts.
About the EcoInnovation Network
Launched in 2019, the EIN brings together innovation centers from academic institutions from Canada, Mexico and the United States to enhance education and to provide tools for students and communities while encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable design for green growth. The University of Waterloo is a founding member and one of the Canadian institutions involved in the network.
About the Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo
For over 50 years the Faculty of Environment has been dedicated to having a positive impact locally and globally. With interdisciplinary programs and research, the community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and industry partners make meaningful change happen in the classroom, the office, and in communities around the world. The Faculty of Environment has grown to become Canada’s largest environment program with some 3,000 students. Both the Faculty of Environment and the University as a whole have prioritized entrepreneurial opportunities and support for students.
The CEC partnered with the University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment to strengthen their commitment to support sustainability, green innovation and entrepreneurship, knowledge exchange and capacity building for youth.
About the CEC
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) was established in 1994 by the governments of Canada, Mexico and the United States through the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, a parallel environmental agreement to NAFTA. As of 2020, the CEC is recognized and maintained by the Environmental Cooperation Agreement, in parallel with the new Free Trade Agreement of North America. The CEC brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including the general public, Indigenous people, youth, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and the business sector, to seek solutions to protect North America’s shared environment while supporting sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations
The CEC is governed and funded equally by the Government of Canada through Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Government of the United States of Mexico through the Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales, and the Government of the United States of America through the Environmental Protection Agency.