EPA's international involvement
International cooperation and involvement is as important as it has ever been, and this importance has existed for many years. In March 1997, EPA submitted a Report to Congress titled “Strengthening EPA’s International Programs”. www.epa.gov/international/about/rpttocongress.html. The report explains that “[i]nternational cooperation is a key element in EPA’s ability to achieve its mission.” Overcoming the challenges of protecting human health and the environment requires the cooperation of other countries. For example, cross border air pollution affects air quality in the United States; improper use of chemicals abroad can affect the safety of food in the U.S.; reducing ozone depleting compounds emissions by U.S. companies could be undermined by emissions of these compounds abroad; pollution in the Caribbean could affect fisheries in the United States; persistent organic pollutants (POPs) transport could affect health in the U.S. There are numerous other examples, but by enlisting the cooperation of other nations in reducing environmental threats, EPA reduces the risks of harm and the cost of environmental protection. Collaborating with international organizations will result in a more economic approach to environmental protection by avoiding duplication.
A priority of the Administrator’s Action Plan is “Global Environment”. (See Action Plan) As part of that priority, the Administrator calls for EPA to promote energy security; reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; implement the Persistent Organic Pollutants Treaty; and advance international collaboration on environmental issues. In addition to the Action Plan, EPA’s 2006-2011 Strategic Plan shows that EPA understands the importance of international cooperation as a means of achieving its mission. I have selected portions of the Strategic Plan that highlight this understanding.
EPA Strategic Plan 2006-2011
EPA’s 2006-2011 Strategic Plan lists five goals that the Agency plans to meet to achieve its mission over the next five years: Goal 1 - Clean Air and Global Climate Change; Goal 2 – Clean and Safe Water; Goal 3 – Land Preservation and Restoration; Goal 4 – Healthy Communities and Ecosystems; and Goal 5 – Compliance and Environmental Stewardship. Each of the chapters for these goals mentions working with international organizations to reduce pollution, that in turn, protects human health and the environment.
Goal 1 – Clean Air and Global Climate Change: “Protect and improve the air so it is healthy to breathe and risks to human health and the environment are reduced. Reduce greenhouse gas intensity by enhancing partnerships with businesses and other sectors.”
EPA recognizes the interconnectedness of energy supply and demand and air quality. See page 25 “Emerging Issues and External Factors”. “The current, fundamental imbalance between energy supply and energy demand, and the effect of that imbalance on the economy, is debatably the most significant environmental issue that has emerged since EPA developed our 2003-2008 Strategic Plan. . . . Higher, more volatile energy prices could create pressures affecting air quality programs and goals.”
“We face another challenge in the rising level of emissions that originate in other countries . . . . [I]nternational efforts will complement our local and regional control efforts to protect public health and our domestic investments.” Therefore, EPA must work cooperatively with other countries to decrease emissions globally. Page 26.
Each goal is divided into several objectives. Objective 1.1 is Healthier Outdoor Air. One of the ways EPA plans to meet this objective is through working with partners, such as the international science community, to better understand the movement of pollutants in and out of the United States and to assess potential mitigation strategies. Page 15. Many types of air pollutants can be transported across national borders. Therefore, EPA is working with other governments to address this transboundary pollution. EPA will promote capacity building and technology transfer by working through bilateral agreements and international partners.
Objective 1.3 of Goal 1 is to Protect the Ozone Layer. In accordance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, EPA will continue implementing domestic programs to reduce and control ozone-depleting substances and enforcing rules on their production, import and emission. See pp 17-18.
Objective 1.5 is to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Page 19. To meet this objective, EPA will promote international partnerships to reduce global methane emissions and enhance economic growth.
Goal 2 - Clean and Safe Water. An emerging issue related to clean and safe water is access to safe drinking water worldwide. To improve access to safe drinking water, EPA will continue to work with the other federal agencies and departments. Page 53.
Objective 2.2 is to Protect Water Quality. Sub-objective 2.2.2 is to Improve Coastal and Ocean Water. In order to improve coastal and ocean waters, EPA will negotiate international standards to address invasive aquatic species. Page 47.
Goal 3 - Land Preservation and Restoration. Objective 3.1 is to Preserve Land. To do this, EPA waste management programs will continue working with other countries and international agencies to devise regulatory initiatives to protect the global environment. EPA’s membership on and work with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Hazardous Waste Task Force will strengthen compliance and enhance border security. Pages 61-62.
Goal 4 – Healthy Communities and Ecosystems. “Collaborative efforts are also key to enhancing and sustaining environmental progress domestically and abroad. EPA works with other U.S. government agencies and cooperates with other nations and international organizations to identify, develop, and implement policies for addressing environmental problems.” Page 78. To prevent and reduce pesticide and industrial chemical risks, EPA works with international entities such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles. See pages 81-84. EPA has worked with the international scientific community and other countries to register reduced-risk pesticides, reducing the risk to Americans from foods imported from other countries. Page 84.
Objective 4.2 Communities: sustain, clean up, and restore communities. This objective is broken down into specific communities such as the Arctic Indigenous Communities. For the Arctic communities, persistent organic pollutants are a huge problem. To reduce this risk, EPA will work with Russia and other Arctic countries to reduce these pollutants. Page 93.
Goal 5 – Compliance and Environmental Stewardship. “To meet our domestic environmental challenges, we continue to cooperate and coordinate with our international partners to promote environmental stewardship globally.” Page 125.
Cross-Goal Strategies. Innovation and collaboration are even more important today due to the decreasing budget. Collaborating with others will help EPA achieve its mission and EPA has established three strategic priority areas for our international engagement: reduce transboundary pollution, advance U.S. interests abroad, and promote good environmental governance. Pages 153-154. A reduction air pollution and toxic substances generated in other countries will help EPA meet its environmental protection goals because many of these substances travel into the United States from other countries.
A priority of the Administrator’s Action Plan is “Global Environment”. (See Action Plan) As part of that priority, the Administrator calls for EPA to promote energy security; reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; implement the Persistent Organic Pollutants Treaty; and advance international collaboration on environmental issues. In addition to the Action Plan, EPA’s 2006-2011 Strategic Plan shows that EPA understands the importance of international cooperation as a means of achieving its mission. I have selected portions of the Strategic Plan that highlight this understanding.
EPA Strategic Plan 2006-2011
EPA’s 2006-2011 Strategic Plan lists five goals that the Agency plans to meet to achieve its mission over the next five years: Goal 1 - Clean Air and Global Climate Change; Goal 2 – Clean and Safe Water; Goal 3 – Land Preservation and Restoration; Goal 4 – Healthy Communities and Ecosystems; and Goal 5 – Compliance and Environmental Stewardship. Each of the chapters for these goals mentions working with international organizations to reduce pollution, that in turn, protects human health and the environment.
Goal 1 – Clean Air and Global Climate Change: “Protect and improve the air so it is healthy to breathe and risks to human health and the environment are reduced. Reduce greenhouse gas intensity by enhancing partnerships with businesses and other sectors.”
EPA recognizes the interconnectedness of energy supply and demand and air quality. See page 25 “Emerging Issues and External Factors”. “The current, fundamental imbalance between energy supply and energy demand, and the effect of that imbalance on the economy, is debatably the most significant environmental issue that has emerged since EPA developed our 2003-2008 Strategic Plan. . . . Higher, more volatile energy prices could create pressures affecting air quality programs and goals.”
“We face another challenge in the rising level of emissions that originate in other countries . . . . [I]nternational efforts will complement our local and regional control efforts to protect public health and our domestic investments.” Therefore, EPA must work cooperatively with other countries to decrease emissions globally. Page 26.
Each goal is divided into several objectives. Objective 1.1 is Healthier Outdoor Air. One of the ways EPA plans to meet this objective is through working with partners, such as the international science community, to better understand the movement of pollutants in and out of the United States and to assess potential mitigation strategies. Page 15. Many types of air pollutants can be transported across national borders. Therefore, EPA is working with other governments to address this transboundary pollution. EPA will promote capacity building and technology transfer by working through bilateral agreements and international partners.
Objective 1.3 of Goal 1 is to Protect the Ozone Layer. In accordance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, EPA will continue implementing domestic programs to reduce and control ozone-depleting substances and enforcing rules on their production, import and emission. See pp 17-18.
Objective 1.5 is to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Page 19. To meet this objective, EPA will promote international partnerships to reduce global methane emissions and enhance economic growth.
Goal 2 - Clean and Safe Water. An emerging issue related to clean and safe water is access to safe drinking water worldwide. To improve access to safe drinking water, EPA will continue to work with the other federal agencies and departments. Page 53.
Objective 2.2 is to Protect Water Quality. Sub-objective 2.2.2 is to Improve Coastal and Ocean Water. In order to improve coastal and ocean waters, EPA will negotiate international standards to address invasive aquatic species. Page 47.
Goal 3 - Land Preservation and Restoration. Objective 3.1 is to Preserve Land. To do this, EPA waste management programs will continue working with other countries and international agencies to devise regulatory initiatives to protect the global environment. EPA’s membership on and work with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s Hazardous Waste Task Force will strengthen compliance and enhance border security. Pages 61-62.
Goal 4 – Healthy Communities and Ecosystems. “Collaborative efforts are also key to enhancing and sustaining environmental progress domestically and abroad. EPA works with other U.S. government agencies and cooperates with other nations and international organizations to identify, develop, and implement policies for addressing environmental problems.” Page 78. To prevent and reduce pesticide and industrial chemical risks, EPA works with international entities such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles. See pages 81-84. EPA has worked with the international scientific community and other countries to register reduced-risk pesticides, reducing the risk to Americans from foods imported from other countries. Page 84.
Objective 4.2 Communities: sustain, clean up, and restore communities. This objective is broken down into specific communities such as the Arctic Indigenous Communities. For the Arctic communities, persistent organic pollutants are a huge problem. To reduce this risk, EPA will work with Russia and other Arctic countries to reduce these pollutants. Page 93.
Goal 5 – Compliance and Environmental Stewardship. “To meet our domestic environmental challenges, we continue to cooperate and coordinate with our international partners to promote environmental stewardship globally.” Page 125.
Cross-Goal Strategies. Innovation and collaboration are even more important today due to the decreasing budget. Collaborating with others will help EPA achieve its mission and EPA has established three strategic priority areas for our international engagement: reduce transboundary pollution, advance U.S. interests abroad, and promote good environmental governance. Pages 153-154. A reduction air pollution and toxic substances generated in other countries will help EPA meet its environmental protection goals because many of these substances travel into the United States from other countries.
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