| Binational and Trinational Institutions |
| Institution and Date |
Description |
| The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) 1944 |
The principle binational agency with authority over territorial limits, water allocation, wastewater treatment, sanitation, and water quality. |
| The La Paz Agreement 1983 |
Established a framework for cooperation on specific environmental pollution problems. Formal workgroups comprised of federally appointed governmental and academic experts target their policy recommendations toward water, air, contingency planning and emergency response, hazardous waste, enforcement cooperation, and pollution prevention. |
| Integrated Border Environment Program (IBEP) 1992-1994 |
Proposed strengthening enforcement of environmental laws, increased cooperative planning, completion of expansion of wastewater treatment facilities, and the development of a computer tracking system on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes. |
| Good Neighbor Environment Board (GNEB) 1992 |
Advises the President and the Congress concerning environmental and infrastructure issues and needs within the states contiguous to Mexico |
| North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) 1994 |
The NAFTA is the first trade agreement which contains provisions to deal with environmental issues which arise in the context of trade relations and disputes:
- NAFTA protects certain Multilateral Environmental Agreements from trade challenge (art. 104).
- NAFTA prohibits reducing environmental standards to attract investment (arts. 104, 906(2), and 1114).
- NAFTA sets general, multilateral rules on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPSs) and other Standards Related Measures (SRMs) (arts. 712, 902 and 904).
- NAFTA promotes the upward harmonization of environmental policies and standards (arts. 713, 714, 905 and 906).
- NAFTA provides for improved consideration of environmental issues in its trade dispute resolution procedures (arts. 723 and 914).
|
| The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) 1994 |
The CEC is a trinational organization whose members are Canada, Mexico and the United States, created under the North American Agreement for Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) to address regional environmental concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts and to promote the effective enforcement of environmental law. |
| The Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC) 1994 |
Created to assist border communities and other sponsors in developing and implementing environmental infrastructure projects, and to certify projects for financing consideration by the North American Development Bank or other sources. |
| The North American Development Bank (NADBank) 1994 |
Capitalized in equal shares by the United States and Mexico to provide $3 billion in new financing to supplement existing sources of funds and leverage the expanded participation of private capital. The BECC/NADBank institutions until recently were limited to three types of environmental infrastructure development: water supply and treatment, waste water treatment and disposal, and solid municipal waste [and related matters]. Addressing issues of hazardous materials and air quality can now also be the subject of BECC/NADBank attention. |
| The Border XXI Program 1996-2000 |
A binational effort which brings together the diverse US and Mexican federal entities responsible for the shared border environment to work cooperatively toward sustainable development through protection of human health and the environment, and proper management of natural resources in both countries. It is the follow-on to the IBEP. |
| The next border program (no name yet established) |
Negotiations are currently underway between the Bush and Fox administrations to develop a new border program as a follow up to IBEP and Border XXI. |
