Future Environmental Trends in North America – Chemical Industry

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Evan Lloyd, Executive Director October 25, 2012 ANIQ Foro Nacional

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)

• intergovernmental organization • supports the cooperative

environmental agenda of Canada – Mexico – United States

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

North American Environmental Cooperation

The CEC: • Council • Joint Public Advisory Committee • Secretariat

Our Work

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation – 1994

•Tri-national cooperative work program

•Citizen Submissions on Enforcement Matters

•Independent Secretariat Reports

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

• Healthy Communities and Ecosystems

• Climate Change – Low-Carbon Economy

• Greening the Economy in North America

Priorities 2010-2015

CEC Initiatives with relevance to North American chemical industry

• Sound Management of Chemicals

• Pollutant Release and Transfer Registry

• Secretariat Report: Environmental Hazards of the Transboundary Movement and Recycling of Spent Lead-Acid Batteries (SLABs)

Future Trends in North America

• Examples:

– Chemical Inventories

– Pollutant Release and Transfer Registries

– Spent Lead Acid Battery Management

Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Reducing Risks Related to Persistent and Bio-accumulating Toxics Substances

Tracking Chemicals in Commerce

Sound Management of Chemicals

Reducing Risk From Toxics

• Banned or severely restricted use of pesticides DDT, Chlordane, Lindane

• Identification of Dixon/Furan sources

• Significant work on reducing use and release of mercury

– Recent focus on uses and sources in Mexico

– NA Mercury Strategy in anticipation of international agreement in 2013

• New approach on families of chemicals (ex: flame retardants, including PBDEs)

Tracking Chemicals in Commerce- Objectives:

– Develop tools for tracking chemicals within - between NA countries

– Maintain comparable and compatible information on chemical use within the NA region

– Support informed decision-making about reducing risks of use, production and end-of-life management

Development of Mexican Chemical Inventory

• CEC-facilitated team formed 2007

• Share experience of US and Canada

• Activities: – Analysis of legal framework in Mexico

– Design of Mexico’s inventory

– Compile information on imports, production and use

– Validate information to ensure compatibility

– Identify policy options to require future reporting

– Support development of Mexican Chemical Inventory

Chemical Inventories in North America

• Canadian Domestic Substances List

o 24,578 published substances 2011

• US Toxic Substances Control Act List

o 66,891 published substances 2011

• Mexican Chemical Inventory

o 5,852 substances to be published 2012

Tracking Pollutant Releases and Transfers in North America (North American PRTR Project)

Objectives:

o Increase access to information

o Improve the comparability of RETC –TRI -NPRIPRTRs in North America

o Support decision-making

Approach:

o Integrated online North American PRTR dataset and tools

o Taking Stock report with analyses addressing North American health and environmental issues

o Outreach and development of relationships with stakeholders

o Tri-lateral collaboration on comparability and consistency: data reporting, collection, and QA

Taking Stock - Report and Website

NA Reporting Facilities

• Canada’s NPRI

• US TRI

• Mexico’s RETC

Promoting Regional Cooperation

• what is reported

• who must report

• reporting guidance, including: definitions, nomenclature

• data estimation techniques

• data dissemination and user support

• information on releases from non-point sources

Top 10 Industrial Sectors (2009) United States Mexico

Benzene Air Emissions - Top 10 Industrial Sectors in North America (2009)

Reported Benzene Emissions to Air (2005-2009)

US CAN MEX

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

700,000 600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

KGS

CEC Secretariat Report (pending) Environmental Hazards of the Transboundary Movement and Recycling of Spent

Lead-Acid Batteries (SLABs)

US Exports of SLABs

0

50000000

100000000

150000000

200000000

250000000

300000000

350000000

400000000

450000000

500000000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Kg

Year

HT codes 540 and 580

Canada

Mexico

World

Pressure on Mexico to raise the bar

• 25% – 50% all SLABS recycled in Mexico from US

• Mexico’s lead smelting/recycling sector operates in a regulatory environment with environmental and public health standards much lower than US

• Pressure to level the playing field and protect Mexican workers and communities with US- equivalent standards for SLAB recycling

Key Drivers of Environmental Change

Science

Sustainability

Scrutiny (Public, government, NGO)

Regional economic integration – equivalency:

–Regulation, legislation

–Programs

–Best practices and supply-chain sustainability initiatives

Three countries. One environment.

© Commission for Environmental Cooperation / 2010