Report of the EM&A Standing Committee Monitoring and Assessing Pollutants across North America Tucson, Arizona, USA. March, 2008

Objectives Promoting the comparability, reliability, relevance and availability of environmental and human health data throughout North America Improving the quality and management of scientific information to identify and assess status and trends Provide verified information for decision makers consideration Advancing shared international objectives, including the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), POP’s strategies, the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP)

Principle Outputs Continuing development and implementation of an integrated trinational monitoring initiative Promotion of sustainable environmental monitoring and human bio-monitoring infrastructure in Mexico (PRONAME). –Assist with submission of a proposal to an international funding institution (IFI) –Build capacity to establish and operate index and satellite sites ● Index ● Urban ● Extractive ● Agricultural ● Industrial ● Indigenous

Principle Outputs…(cont) 10 year status report describing anticipated environmental and human health improvements of NARAP substances and other selected PBTS Summary report of PBTS related information in Mexican archives –Gray Literature

Principle Outputs…(cont) Trinational monitoring projects on: Bio-monitoring of maternal blood Mercury levels and deposition POPs levels on soil and air in Mexico Mercury levels in biota Promote and develop capacities for monitoring and assessment of dioxins and furans in air, in Mexico

Programa Nacional de Monitoreo y Evaluación de México (PRONAME) Intended to provide: –A policy framework for government-wide, coordinated management of environmental and human health monitoring and assessment –A strategy for implementation of a national monitoring and assessment effort on a sustained, long term basis –Reliable, and accurate scientific information about the past, current and future state of the environment and human health to facilitate effective decision making

Programa Nacional de Monitoreo y Evaluación de México (PRONAME) The key elements of PRONAME include: –Identifying national demand for EM&A –Identifying key institutions and labs to play a leadership role –Building a cohesive team of experts –Identifying training and capacity building requirements –Expanding existing long term ecological research (LTR) monitoring sites in Mexico to include persistent bioaccumulative toxic substances (PBTS)

Programa Nacional de Monitoreo y Evaluación de México (PRONAME) The key elements of PRONAME include: –Providing scientifically sound information on background levels of internationally identified PBTS and emerging priority chemicals –Monitoring and assessing trends in exposures to toxic substances as an early warning tool –Setting up national publicly accessible electronic data banks –Setting up a system of lab certification, testing verification of results

What will PRONAME provide for Mexico? –Relevant and timely information to decision makers in government, industry, academia and the public in Mexico –Enhance environmental and human health decision-making in Mexico –Coordination of interdepartmental interests through a Memorandum of Agreement

PRONAME as a support to meet Mexico’s obligations towards Multilateral Environmental Agreements National Implementation Plan under the Stockholm Convention Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Rotterdam Convention, and the Basel Convention North American Leaders Summit –Regulatory Cooperation on Chemicals Management GRULAC initiatives

How can PRONAME be advanced? PRONAME needs to demonstrate a cooperative long-term commitment from all key Secretariats. PRONAME can be significantly aided by applying for and receiving funding from an international funding institution like the GEF Two workshops of environmental and human health monitoring experts were held in February and October 2007 to identify the key scientific parameters for such an initiative A senior officials workshop was held in February 19-20, 2008 to confirm support for PRONAME as a priority for the Government of Mexico.

Path forward Acknowledging the success of the Senior Officials Workshop –Assess potential for external funding »Approach UNDP, UNEP, GEF and WB –Develop implementation plan –Provide a critical path for capacity building and information dissemination

Erick Felipe Jiménez Quiroz SEMARNAT-INE-DGCENICA THANK YOU Tucson, Arizona, USA. March, 2008