New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, January 22, 2008 - The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Environment Canada yesterday signed a cross-border agreement to enhance weather and climate monitoring and research. "With this agreement, NOAA and Environment Canada can broaden our collaboration to enhance health, safety and economic prosperity for our countries and the world," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Although our organizations have engaged in a successful relationship for decades, we now have a framework that allows us to explore new opportunities."The Memorandum of Understanding establishes a formal link between the two organizations, as well as a standing committee with representatives from both countries that will meet regularly to collaborate on cross-border projects."International partnerships like this between meteorological services is key to advancing the quality of our weather and environmental forecasting services protecting citizens' health and property," said Mark Warawa, Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Environment Minister John Baird. "This agreement is another important milestone in our efforts to understand and combat climate change."Environment Canada is responsible to preserve and enhance the quality of the natural environment, conserve Canada's renewable and water resources, forecast weather and environmental change and coordinate environmental policies and programs for the Government of Canada. Environment Canada works with international partners to maintain and improve Canada's environment and contributes to global efforts on shared issues such as weather forecasting and prediction. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.For further information:International Activities(240) 481-6310Environment Canada Media Relations:(819) 934-80081-888-908-8008
