This Agreement commits both countries to encourage high levels of domestic environmental protection, to foster good environmental governance and to promote transparency and public participation. It also creates a framework for undertaking environmental cooperation. Key Elements are: 1) Commitments to ensure high levels of environmental protection and effective enforcement of environmental laws; 2) A non-derogation clause that obligates the countries not to relax their environmental laws in order to encourage trade or investment; 3) A dispute resolution mechanism regarding obligations identified in the Agreement; 4) A commitment to maintain appropriate procedures to conduct environmental impact assessments, and allow to for public participation in these procedures; 5) Provisions to ensure that interested persons can request the investigation of alleged violations of environmental laws; 6) A requirement for each country to designate a National Coordinating Officer for the Environment Agreement and establish a Committee on the Environment responsible for development and implementation of cooperative programs and activities; 7) Commitment to develop cooperative programs and activities, subject to available resources. Article 5 deals with biological diversity and the Parties recognize the importance of the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The Parties shall endeavour to cooperate in order to exchange relevant information regarding: a) the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; b) the avoidance of illegal access to genetic resources, traditional knowledge, innovations and practices; and, c) the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated knowledge, innovations and practices. Environment Canada works with Peru’s Ministry of Environment (MINAM) to implement the Agreement, in partnership with external experts (including representatives of other government department/agencies, academics, private sector and NGOs) who support collaborative activities. Annex I lists priority areas for cooperation as follows: among others: a) Environmental risk management; b) Integrated water management; c) Conservation in situ and ex situ of biodiversity; d) Sustainable use of natural resources; e) Restoration of degraded ecosystems; f) Promotion of production and trade of environmental-friendly goods and services; g) Air, soil and waters pollution prevention management and control; h) Integrated solid waste management; i) Integrated chemical contaminants and hazardous wastes management; j) Systematizing of environmental information; k) Environmental citizenship and education; l) National institutional strengthening including: i) surveillance program of living natural resources; ii) Information system of living natural resources; iii) Information system on the environment; iv) Surveillance program for the monitoring and tracking of genetic resources; v) Monitoring and alert system of genetically modified organisms; m) Harmonization and rationalization of the knowledge and information management, including coastal desert ecosystems and Andean grassland ecosystems; n) Forests management; and o) Use and development of clean technologies. The text consists of 18 articles divided into 3 Sections as follows: Environmental Rights and Obligations (I); Environmental Cooperation (II); Institutional Provisions (III).
Канада, Перу · 2008-05-29