Canada-Chile agreement on environmental cooperation

Plain language summary

The Canada-Chile Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, signed in parallel to the Free Trade Agreement, is a legally binding mechanism for bilateral environmental cooperation. This Agreement aims to promote environmental protection and sustainable development in both countries.

The Council, a body established by the agreement, is required to meet annually to discuss collaborative activities and establish a work program. Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Ministry of the Environment of Chile, in partnership with external experts, coordinate the activities of the Council. These cooperative efforts provide an opportunity for policy dialogue and knowledge exchange, which strengthens environmental protections in both countries, as well as the Canada-Chile bilateral relationship.

Objective

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

Key elements

The implementation of the Agreement is overseen by the Canada-Chile Commission for Environmental Cooperation, composed of a Council, a Joint Public Advisory Committee and a Joint Submission Committee. The Commission is supported by two National Secretariats, respectively located in each country’s Ministry of the Environment.

Citizens and non-governmental organizations of the two countries are able to present an official complaint (submission) should they believe governments have failed to effectively enforce environmental laws.

A consultation and dispute settlement process is available to the Parties where a persistent pattern of failure to effectively enforce an environmental law is alleged.

Expected results

Facilitate collaboration between Canada and Chile 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 Ministry of the Environment of Chile 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

As required by the Agreement, Canada and Chile hold an annual Council Session to review progress on the implementation of the Agreement; discuss environmental priorities; approve joint work program for environmental cooperation; and meet with the public and the Agreement’s Joint Public Advisory Committee.

The Joint Public Advisory Committee chairs an annual public meeting aimed at promoting accountability, transparency and engagement.

Both parties support the implementation of projects focusing on priority topics identified in the work program, which is updated every two years.  

The last Council Session took place in April 2021. The next Council session is expected to take place in October 2022.

Submissions on enforcement matters are reviewed by the independent Joint Submission Committee and can result in an independent assessment through the preparation of a factual record. 

Reports

The Agreement calls for the preparation of an annual report (PDF) by the National Secretariats, in accordance with instructions from the Council.

In addition, the National Secretariats have undertaken two reviews of implementation of the Agreement – in 2004 and in 2009.

Results

Under this Agreement, Canada and Chile have built a strong and positive relationship on environmental matters.

The annual Council Session provides an opportunity for policy dialogue and information exchanges on a wide range of priority topics.

The Agreement has fostered capacity-building and collaborative research on issues of importance to Canada and Chile.

Recent cooperative activities have focused on climate change, biodiversity and protected areas, conservation of shared migratory species, circular economy, clean hydrogen technologies, and chemicals and waste management, among others.