Agreement on Environmental Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Honduras.

The objective of this Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is to reinforce the concept that trade and environmental protection are mutually supportive. The Agreement shall commit both countries to ensure high levels of domestic environmental protection, to foster good environmental governance and to promote transparency and public participation. It will also create a framework for undertaking environmental cooperative activities. The objectives of this Agreement are to: a) foster conservation, protection and improvement of the environment in the territories of the Parties for the well-being of present and future generations; b) promote sustainable development through environmental and economic policies that are mutually supportive; c) promote cooperation between the Parties on the development and improvement of environmental governance; d) enhance compliance with, and enforcement of, environmental laws; e) support the environment-related provisions of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; f) promote transparency and public participation in the conservation, protection and improvement of the environment, including in the development of environmental laws and policies; g) encourage public participation in the implementation of this Agreement; and h) promote economically efficient and effective environmental measures.
The Environment Agreement also includes enforcement and complaint mechanisms, which: a)allow residents in the territory of either Party to submit written questions to either country regarding any obligation under the Agreement; b)provide that any resident in the territory of either Party can request an investigation of alleged violations of environmental laws in his or her country; and c) establish a dispute resolution mechanism for both governments to address any matter that may arise under the Agreement.
Part Four deals with Environmental Cooperation committing Canada and Jordan to develop cooperative programmes and activities that support the achievement of the objectives and obligations of this Agreement, subject to the availability of appropriate resources. The countries are to jointly decide on priority areas for environment-related cooperative activities and may involve the public and interested stakeholders in their cooperative activities. This section also specifies that the countries agree to strive to strengthen their cooperation on environmental issues in other bilateral and multilateral fora in which they participate.
Part Five on Implementation outlines the mechanisms and institutional arrangements that will support the implementation of the Environment Agreement. It specifies that a Committee on the Environment, comprised of representatives from both countries, will be established to take responsibility for the implementation of the Environment Agreement. It further commits the Committee to meet no later than one year after the entry into force of this Agreement to review progress on cooperative activities, and to meet subsequently as agreed.
Finally, Part Six concerns General Provisions. This section includes the process and function of the dispute resolution mechanism. This mechanism allows the countries to address any matter arising under the Environment Agreement through the Committee. If the countries fail to resolve the matter through the Committee the dispute resolution mechanism allows for Ministerial level consultation. In the case of a persistent pattern of failure by a country to effectively enforce its environmental laws, or a breach of the provision on non-derogation, a Review Panel may also be convened to make non-binding recommendations on the matter.
The text consists of 28 articles divided into 7 Parts as follows: Definitions and Objectives (I); Domestic Obligations (II); Accountability (III); Cooperation (IV); Implementation (V); General Provisions (VI); Final Provisions (VII). Two Annexes are enclosed.