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International collaboration between Canada, Mexico and the United States on environmental issues of common interest

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CEC Publishes Factual Record on the Effective Enforcement of Environmental Law Regarding the North Atlantic Right Whale Submission

Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), 6 January 2026—On 19 December 2025, the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) published the factual record regarding submission SEM-21-003 (North Atlantic right whale) filed by Oceana (“Submitter”), who asserted that the United States is failing to effectively enforce its environmental laws to protect the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) from collisions with ships, known as “vessel strikes,” and from entanglement in commercial fishing gear.

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North Atlantic right whale

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Fast Mitigation Strategies for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants

2024 Active SubTopic

Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) and a potent greenhouse gas. At the 2023 North American Leaders Submit (NALS), Canada, Mexico and the United States recognized “the urgency for rapid, coordinated and ambitious measures to build clean energy economies and respond to the climate crisis” and committed to “reduce...

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Short-Lived Climate Pollutants

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Milestone Study on Bioplastics Waste Management in the US & Canada — Executive Summary

Transforming Recycling and Solid Waste Management in the US & Canada

November 18, 2024 21 pages Sustainable Living and Economies

The CEC has commissioned this series of three milestone studies as part of its “Transforming Recycling and Solid Waste Management in North America” project, with the goal of supporting Canada, Mexico and the United States in their efforts to promote circular economy and sustainable materials management approaches to encourage eco-design and increase product and material reuse, recovery and recycling rates.

These studies aim for better understanding of the opportunities in the recycling sector and secondary material markets for plastics, paper and bioplastics waste. These studies focus on Canada and the United States, and a separate set of studies focused on Mexico will be available in the coming months. Building on the results of these milestone studies and on input by key actors, a joint pilot project is currently underway in Canada and the United States with the purpose of assessing the feasibility of innovative technologies, policies and practices that can be adopted at scale across North America.

The complete report is available in English only, but you can consult the executive summary in English, Spanish, and French.

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We conduct research, provide tools and training, and provide a unique space for decision-makers and the public to engage on environmental policy issues affecting the North American region.