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U.S./ MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ASSESSED
Release Date: 05/18/2000
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FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2000
U.S./ MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS ASSESSED
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol M. Browner and Julia Carabias, Mexico’s environmental minister, met today to review bilateral environmental progress over the past six years, during the Administrations of President Clinton and President Ernesto Zedillo. The meeting of the environmental ministers took place in Washington, D.C. during the Binational Commission meeting, an annual conference of the cabinets of the two countries.
Browner said, “There has been significant progress in our efforts to improve environmental conditions in the two countries, particularly in the border area, and major initiatives to include states, tribes, and the private sector in climate change cooperative projects. Progress has been made in efforts to improve water and air quality, information exchange on siting hazardous waste facilities, and responses to environmental emergencies in border cities. A solid foundation has been laid and I am confident that the bilateral progress will be sustained because of the commitment of both countries to environmental quality.”
The border area’s population of 12 million U.S. and Mexican residents, fueled in part by dramatic industrial growth, is expected to double in the next 20 years. Infrastructure and ecosystems are expected to face serious challenges in water quality and quantity, waste management, and air quality.
“The vision of sustaining growth without damages to the environment or to the well-being of future generations will become difficult if vigorous action is not taken now,” said Browner.
Two NAFTA side-agreement organizations have contributed to the improvements referenced by the environmental officials. Since the institutions’ founding in 1994, the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission and the North American Development Bank have helped in launching an unprecedented number of major projects for treating drinking water and wastewater and managing solid waste. Six of the projects are complete and operating, and an additional 16 are under construction. The 22 projects cost approximately $640 million and, when complete, will serve a total of over five million U.S. and Mexican citizens.
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