Canada-Colombia agreement on environmental cooperation

Plain language summary

The Canada-Colombia Agreement on the Environment, signed in parallel to the Free Trade Agreement, is a legally binding mechanism for bilateral environmental cooperation. The Agreement aims to promote environmental protection and sustainable development in both countries. Cooperative activities provide an opportunity for policy dialogue and knowledge exchange, which strengthens environmental protection in both countries, as well as the Canada-Colombia bilateral relationship. Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, in partnership with external experts, coordinate the cooperative activities.

Objective

This Agreement creates a framework to better conserve, protect, and enhance the environment through cooperation and effective enforcement of environmental laws. The Agreement also promotes sustainable development, transparency and public participation in environmental management.

Key elements

The implementation of the Canada–Colombia Agreement on the Environment is overseen by a Committee on the Environment, composed of officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia.

Citizens and organizations are able to submit a written question or request an investigation if they believe governments have failed to effectively enforce environmental laws.

A commitment to develop cooperative work programs and activities, subject to available resources.

A non-derogation clause that obligates the countries not to relax their environmental laws in order to encourage trade or investment.
A dispute resolution mechanism to address any matter that may arise under the Agreement.

A commitment to maintain appropriate procedures to conduct environmental impact assessments, and allow for public participation in these procedures.

Expected results

Facilitate collaboration between Canada and Colombia on environmental priorities, aimed at strengthening environmental protection.

Provide effective mechanisms to raise and resolve concerns about the effective enforcement of domestic environmental laws.

Canada’s involvement

Environment and Climate Change Canada works with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia to implement the Agreement, in partnership with external experts (including representatives of other government department/agencies, academia, the private sector and civil society) who support collaborative activities.

Results / progress

Activities

The Committee on the Environment is required to meet as mutually decided by the countries (either in person or by videoconference) in order to review progress on the implementation of the Agreement; discuss environmental priorities; and, approve joint work program for environment cooperation.

The Canada-Colombia Committee on the Environment last met in May 2018 in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada.

Reports

The Committee on the Environment is required to prepare a summary record of meetings, in addition to reports and recommendations on bilateral activities.

There is also a requirement to consider undertaking a review of the implementation of the Agreement, within five years of its entry into force.

Results

Under this Agreement, Canada and Colombia have taken important steps towards strengthening relations on environmental matters.

The Committee on the Environment provides a mechanism for regular policy dialogue and knowledge exchanges on a wide range of priority topics.

The Agreement provides a mechanism to foster capacity-building and collaborative research on issues of importance to Canada and Colombia.

Recent cooperative activities have focused on climate change, biodiversity conservation, clean hydrogen technologies, chemicals management, and pollutant release and transfer registers, among others.