| CARVIEW |
Three countries working together to protect our shared environment
International collaboration between Canada, Mexico and the United States on environmental issues of common interest
Home
In the Spotlight
CEC Publishes Factual Record on the Effective Enforcement of Environmental Law Regarding the North Atlantic Right Whale Submission
Tiohtià:ke (Montreal), 6 January 2026—On 19 December 2025, the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) published the factual record regarding submission SEM-21-003 (North Atlantic right whale) filed by Oceana (“Submitter”), who asserted that the United States is failing to effectively enforce its environmental laws to protect the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) from collisions with ships, known as “vessel strikes,” and from entanglement in commercial fishing gear.
Topics
Climate Change
Supporting emissions reduction and helping communities adapt to extreme weather events
Environmental Justice
The pursuit of environmental justice (EJ) aims to address historical inequities, marginalization and discrimination in how environmental benefits and burdens are enjoyed or suffered by certain communities.
Ecosystems
Working with communities to conserve and restore North America's terrestrial and marine ecosystems and priority species
Enforcement
Supporting enforcement and compliance with domestic environmental law and with multilateral environmental agreements
Sustainable Living and Economies
Advancing the sustainability of our economic activities and life choices by identifying and fostering alternatives that effectively integrate the environmental, social and economic dimensions for a just and resilient North America. Our work is organized around four main areas:
Pollutants
Promoting clean air, water and land through prevention, reductions, and sound management of pollutant releases, toxic chemicals and hazardous waste
Youth Engagement
Over the years, the CEC has been committed to youth engagement and the efforts supported have provided youth with opportunities to raise awareness, provide tangible, sustainable, and innovative solutions for environmental issues in their communities, and influence CEC’s strategies, projects, and initiatives.
Indigenous Affairs
The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) recognizes the essential role that Indigenous Peoples and local communities play in environmental stewardship across Turtle Island, Madre Tierra, also known as North America.
Private Sector Engagement
The private sector plays a critical role in driving economic prosperity, innovation and sustainable development.
Featured Project
Stimulating Behavioral Changes to Reduce Food Loss and Waste (FLW) in North America and Expanded Promotion and Uptake of Related CEC FLW Resources
2024 Active Sustainable Living and Economies
Featured Publication
City Park Project
Factual Record Regarding Submission SEM-19-002
July 22, 2024 76 pages Enforcement
On 16 April 2019, the organization Acción Colectiva Socioambiental, A.C. (hereafter the “Submitter”) filed a submission with the Secretariat, in accordance with the provisions of NAAEC Article 14(1). The Submitter asserts that Mexico is failing to effectively enforce its environmental law in relation to the City Park Project, in the City of León, Guanajuato, Mexico. At the time this submission was filed, the City Park Project was under construction.
The Submitter asserts that Mexico is failing to effectively enforce provisions of General Act on Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection (Ley General del Equilibrio Ecológico y la Protección al Ambiente—LGEEPA); the LGEEPA Regulations on Environmental Impact Assessment (Reglamento de la LGEEPA en Materia de Evaluación de Impacto Ambiental—REIA); the General Wildlife Act (Ley General de Vida Silvestre—LGVS); the Internal Regulations of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Reglamento Interior de la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales—RI-Semarnat); the Environmental Protection and Preservation Act of the State of Guanajuato (Ley para la Protección y Preservación del Ambiente del estado de Guanajuato—LPPAEG); the LPPAEG Regulations on Environmental Impact Assessment (Reglamento de la LPPAEG en Materia de Evaluación del Impacto Ambiental—REIA-Guanajuato); the Environmental Management Bylaw of the City of León, Guanajuato (Reglamento para la Gestión Ambiental del Municipio de León, Guanajuato—RGA-León or the “Municipal Bylaw”); and Official Mexican Standard NOM-059-Semarnat-2010, Environmental protection—Native flora and fauna species of Mexico-Risk categories and specifications for species inclusion, exclusion
or amendments—List of species at risk (NOM-059).
Work With Us
2026 Legal Internships
Internship Opportunities
Deadline: January 31, 2026 5:00pm
Stipend: C$3,500 (Canadian dollars).
What We Do
We conduct research, provide tools and training, and provide a unique space for decision-makers and the public to engage on environmental policy issues affecting the North American region.