Joint Statement of the Environment Committee of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on the Five-Year Review on the Implementation and Operation of the Environment Chapter

June 30, 2025

On June 17, 2025, the Environment Committee (“the Committee”) under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (“the Agreement”) completed the Five-Year Review (“the Review”) of the implementation and operation of the Environment Chapter (“Chapter 24”), pursuant to Article 24.26.7.

The Parties to the Agreement welcomed the progress achieved since the Agreement’s entry into force on July 1, 2020 and reported on their respective implementation of Chapter 24 commitments. These efforts have included actions to strengthen environmental protections and enforce environmental laws. The Parties reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in addressing environmental issues and highlighted joint initiatives supporting Chapter 24’s implementation.

Mexico highlighted key areas of implementation related to natural resource conservation, emphasizing the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in the sustainable management of biodiversity. Mexico’s efforts have included advancing community-based forest management practices: enhancing ecosystem stewardship; expanding the designation of protected areas; strengthening national legal frameworks for environmental protection and land conservation; broadening air quality improvement programs; and accelerating the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances.

The United States highlighted relevant law enforcement achievements, including enhanced interdiction capacities at the southern border; technological improvements that further enable U.S. government agencies’ implementation of the Agreement’s environment commitments; and support for U.S. government agencies to improve monitoring and enforcement of the Agreement’s environment commitments.

Canada highlighted key priority areas and progress made in implementing Chapter 24, including meaningful engagement with the public and Indigenous partners; advancing responsible business conduct; improving air quality; protecting the marine environment from ship pollution; reducing marine litter; conserving marine species; and strengthening biodiversity conservation.

The Committee also reviewed the operation of Chapter 24, including linkages to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s activities and the Submissions on Enforcement Matters process. The Committee emphasized the value of public participation for promoting implementation of the Agreement through a discussion of best practices for its public sessions.

The next biannual Committee meeting, which will include a public session, will take place this fall in Ottawa.