U.S. and Canada to continue collaboration on environmental reform
U.S. and Canadian representatives celebrated 25 years of successful collaboration on air quality reform on Thursday and pledged to continue to work together to overcome environmental and economic challenges, including signing the Paris Agreement.
U.S. Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy conducted meetings in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada last week, reporting successful negotiations between the countries for the advancement of clean technology and prosperous economies.
“We know neither environmental nor economic issues respect borders,” McKenna and McCarthy wrote in a statement. “That is why Canada and the United States have a long history of working together to protect our shared environment. We face many of the same challenges, and we make better progress environmentally and economically when we address those challenges together.
The representatives met with Inuit leaders to discuss methane reduction. They also discussed clean energy expansion and incorporating better energy practices with environmental organizations, academics and students at the University of Ottawa.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement. The countries also hope to gain support from Mexico to unite the North American continent for environmental reform.
McKenna and McCarthy wrote that the U.S. and Canada would both sign the Paris Agreement in the next few weeks, and work together on implementation. The countries also expressed commitment to continue working together in the future in the fight against climate change.
