Developing a Governance Framework

for National SAICM Implementation

“ Experiences, lessons learned

and perspectives ”

Dr. Mario Yarto

National Institute of Ecology

MEXICO

Geneva, June 2006

Content

• Background on regional experience

• Achievements

• Future directions in NA

• Mexico´s own experience

– Grey Agenda (SAICM at a National level)

– Lindane

– Lessons learned

Background note“regional experience”

• Mexico, through the NAFTA, is part of the North American

Commission for Environmental Cooperation, and is actively

involved in the Sound Management of Chemicals (SMOC)

initiative, which gives priority to the management and control of

substances of mutual concern that are persistent and toxic, but

also envisaged cooperation on other aspects of the sound

management of the full range of chemical substances in the three

countries

Chemicals Management in North America

• Chemical industry is important in Canada, Mexico, United States

• Sound management of chemicals is critical to health, environment, global competitiveness

• Key opportunities exist for leadership in chemicals management

CEC provides a valuable forum for chemicals management in North America.

• The mechanism for trilateral work on persistent and toxic chemicals has

been through North American Regional Action Plans (NARAPs).

NARAPs have been developed for DDT, Chlordane, PCBs and Mercury

taking a substance-by-substance approach. In addition, a NARAP on

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment has been developed to

address pathways of exposure and assess progress in controlling

pollution. Furthemore, a NARAP for Lindane is seeking approval by the

Council of Ministers (2006)

How it works

CEC Sound Management of Chemicals Agenda 1995–2005

• Aligning North American priorities for chemicals management

• Implementing North American Regional Action Plans (NARAPs) as top priorities

– chlordane, DDT, PCBs, D/F & HCB, mercury, lindane, environmental monitoring and assessment

• Helping the three countries to advance international objectives

Achievements through NARAPs

• PCBs (1996): environmentally sound management & control of existing PCBs throughout their life-cycles with objective of virtual elimination through safe phase out and destruction

• DDT (1997): DDT no longer manufactured in North America; Total elimination of use in 2000, surpassing plan target of 80% reduction by 2002

• Chlordane (1997): Chlordane no longer registered for use or used; sole North American producer voluntarily ceased production

• Mercury (Phase 1 NARAP 1997; Phase 2 NARAP 2000):

– 50-percent reduction in national mercury emissions by 2006

– Phase-out or ban specific mercury uses where there is an unreasonable or otherwise unmanageable risk of release to the environment or risk to human health

International recognition of SMOC program

• DDT & Chlordane NARAPs profiled as leading examples in the International Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and Intergovernmental Negotiating Sessions (INCs) leading to the Stockholm Agreement (1996-2002).

• Mercury NARAP has helped to inform the work of UNEP global assessment on mercury.

• Transfer of North American expertise on DDT via a joint Mexican-Central American demonstration for Action and Demonstration of Sustainable Alternatives to DDT for Malaria Vector Control.

Proposal for a Renewed Approach (2006–2020)

• Re-aligning with Puebla Declaration (Information for Decision Making, Capacity Building, Trade and Environment) and existing domestic and international activities

• Actively involving stakeholders as partners

• Leveraging our resources

• Helping Parties advance international objectives (SAICM, WSSD 2020 Goals)

• Cross-linking with other CEC programs

Overall achievements

• The most important actions for the success of these Regional Action Plans have required

– close coordination and synergies between agencies in the three countries,

– communication to the public and public participation,

– exchange of information,

– capacity building process

Mexico´s Experiences

• Grey AgendaGrey Agenda

•Lindane profileLindane profile

• Stockholm NIP

• Capacity building in CA

• How to ensure a multi-sectoral approach for national SAICM implementation (incl. effective inter-ministerial co-ordination)

• How to facilitate effective involvement of stakeholder groups in the development of national SAICM implementation strategies.

• Sharing of national experiencies of existing and planned structures and activities, including lessons learned to date

Focus on

Group of initiatives, policies,

strategies, actions and coordinated

and effective instruments, to

prevent, abate and remediate

environmental pollution at the local,

regional and global leves, through

the sound management of

chemicals and hazardous waste

Mexico´s experiences: The Grey Agenda

Mexico´s experiences: The Grey Agenda

• How did we start

– Intra-agency working group

– Identify main issues to be addressed

– Identify other sectors / stakeholders

– Development of a preliminary working plan

• Lack of coordination in public policy.• Existence of regulatory instruments but without a

coordinated intra/inter agency and inter sectorial approach.

• Non-compliance and illegal practices.• Hot-spot problems unsolved due to lack of resources• Limited knowledge on state of the environment

Issues identified

Need for a

Grey Agenda is based

on….

Energy

Transport

AgricultureEconomy

Internal Affairs

Foreign Affairs

Labour

Complexity of the Grey Agenda

Health Customs

Environment

Social Development

State/local authorities

Even more complexity: International linkages

STOCKHOLM CONVENTION

BASEL CONVENTION

ROTTERDAM CONVENTION

MONTREAL PROTOCOL

BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL AGENDA

OECD, CEC, APEC, UNEP, CDS, SAICM

FEDERAL GOV.

Federal Federal agenciesagencies

Those related to Those related to environmet, environmet,

human health, human health, labour and other labour and other

issuesissues

ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

(Lead)Interagency WGInteragency WG

- DGGIMAR- DGGIMAR- DGIRA DGIRA - INE/CENICAINE/CENICA- UCAIUCAI- PROFEPAPROFEPA- DGAFEDGAFE- DGPYEDGPYE- DGIDGI- IMTAIMTA- DGCCA and DGCCA and RETCRETC- CNACNA- OtherOther

OTHER STAKEHOLD

ERS

Representation Representation from all from all

interested interested actors actors

- States- States

- MunicipalitiesMunicipalities

- IndustryIndustry

- AcademiaAcademia

- Civil societyCivil society

STRATEGIC PROGRAMME

Pollution Pollution preventionprevention

Risk reductionRisk reduction

PRTRPRTR

Communication, Communication,

education education programmesprogrammes

Capacity Capacity building building

Social Social participationparticipation

Adequate Adequate legislation (incl. legislation (incl. compliance and compliance and

enforcementenforcement

TradeTrade

Towards a National Policy

SAICM Implementation

Next steps

• Ministerial endorsement (thus ensuring involvement of relevant government sectors)

• Encourage and provide for meaningful participation of the public, including non-governmental organizations; business and industry; provincial, state, and municipal governments; academia; and technical and policy experts in developing its recommendations

• Facilitate stakeholder workshops for further issue identification

• Request commitment for shared responsibility

• Promote partnerships and pilot projects in strategic sectors

• Build upon existing bilateral and multilateral commitments related to the sound management of chemicals

• Development of a SAICM Implementation plan

Mexico´s experiences: Lindane

• Objectives– Commitment to phase-out all uses

within NARAP

– Development of profile document for decision-making

– Stakeholder workshops for information sharing

– Identify possible substitutes for Lindane

– Support for regulatory/non-regulatory initiatives

• Stakeholder participation– Government, Industry, NGO´s,

Academia, Indigenous groups

– Set objectives, recommendations from each sector

– Identification of issues to focus on

– Development of a national position

• Outcomes

– Transparency

– Participative process

– Productive and results-oriented stakeholders meetings

– Information and positions obtained directly from the source

– Informed decision-making

• Governance is needed to strengthen institutions

• Multisectorial approach is better when determining national priorities

• Creation of synergies between domestic and international agendas improves effectiveness (Grey Agenda SAICM)

• Better results by scaling of national projects through international initiatives (UNEP´s mercury programme, SAICM, OECD).

• Gains on capacity building, technology transfer, sharing of information and experiences, international cooperation.

• Use of consensus building as a strategy

• Leveraging of resources is important.

• Team work is better…and much more fun

Lessons learned

Thank you for your attention !

myarto@ine.gob.mx