STATE OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT CEC Council Session 26 June 2008 PURPOSE: Provide Council with a North American view of 14 key environmental issues GOALS: Identify opportunities and challenges for the CEC to address these issues Stimulate Councils deliberations on cooperative activities for the 20102015 CEC Strategic Plan, and 2009 Operational plan The North American Mosaic: An Overview of Key Environmental Issues Pollutants: Acid Deposition Industrial Pollution and Waste Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxics Air and Atmosphere: Climate Change Particulate Matter Ground-level Ozone Stratospheric Ozone Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Invasive Species Oceans and Coasts Land Use Species of Common Conservation Concern Water: Water Quality Water Use and Quantity Shared Water Resources An Overview of Key Environmental Issues Air and atmosphere: Climate change Particulate matter Ground-level ozone Stratospheric ozone Pollutants: Acid deposition Industrial pollution and waste Persistent bioaccumulative toxics Since 1990, SO 2 emissions down by one-third, NO x down by one-fifth. Encouraging trends in pollution prevention and reduction of highly toxic chemicals, but progress not uniform. New releases of PBTs reduced or eliminated, but existing releases slow to break down. Since 1990, GHG emissions have increased by 18%, same rate as total energy use. Since 1990, total emissions reduced, but human exposure varies across 3 countries. Substantial reduction of ODS over the last 20 years, although certain ODS difficult to eliminate entirely. Industrial point sources of pollutants have substantially decreased over the last 30 years. Availability of freshwater under increasing pressure from a variety of sources. Trends vary across ecosystems: improvement in the Great Lakes, increasing vulnerability in the Arctic Ocean. Biodiversity and ecosystems: Invasive species Oceans and coasts Land use Species of common conservation concern Water: Water quality Water use and quantity Shared water resources A comprehensive trend indicator has not been developed, although the scale of the problem is recognized. Trends suggest continuing declines in some fisheries, and ongoing habitat damage and bycatch. Compared with changes to native landscapes since European colonization, current annual changes are small. Some species populations have increased, while others still declining. No comprehensive trend indicator. An Overview of Key Environmental Issues Going forward, Council can focus on the key challenges to the state of our environment Informed by the State of the Environment reports, Council can provide direction to guide the development of the 20102015 Strategic Plan and 2009 Operational Plan Options for Council consideration include: -Focus on areas where significant environmental challenges remain Climate change -Continue work in key areas where the task is not finished Biodiversity and Ecosystems Pollutants Air and Atmosphere -End projects that have achieved their objectives -Enhance information to citizens North American environmental indicators Seek public input