Meeting in Mérida on Friday, environmental officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States announced several projects totaling nearly $5 million in environmental cooperation.
In the Mexican city where the annual session of the Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) was held, the Canadian Minister of the Environment, Steven Guilbeault, his Mexican counterpart, María Luisa Albores González, and the administrator of the Agency of the United States Environmental Protection, Michael S. Regan, looked at environmental issues that particularly affect vulnerable and indigenous communities.
The Environmental Justice and Climate Resilience (EJ4Climate) grant program, aimed at underserved and vulnerable communities as well as Indigenous communities to help them prepare for the effects of these climate changes, is being awarded an additional US$2 million.
In addition, a $1 million project aimed at strengthening the resilience of communities to climate change has also been implemented. Another $750,000 aims to promote sustainable production and consumption patterns in North America.
Other budget announcements relate to sustainable forestry and improving understanding of traditional Indigenous practices and knowledge related to food systems.
“Close cooperation between our three countries in the field of the environment has never been so important. The effects of climate change, whether it be flooding, coastal erosion, dangerous heat waves or wildfires, pose a real threat to our health, safety and economic security.” Minister Guilbeault.
Members of the CEC Council met for their 24th annual session under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) and the Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (ACE).
The next session will be held in Vancouver next year.