MORELIA, Mexico - To highlight their shared commitment to environmental progress in North America, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson joined his Mexican and Canadian counterparts to launch a new collaborative environmental initiative on green building.

The officials were gathered in Morelia, Mexico, for the 14th Council Session of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), an organization created by Canada, Mexico, and the United States to address regional environmental concerns.

"Today's collaboration with our North American partners reaffirms President Bush's commitment to being a good global neighbor," said Johnson. "The CEC is an important catalyst for cooperative action in building a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable environment for future generations."

Johnson joined host Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, Mexican Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, and John Baird, Canadian Environment Minister, for the day-long meeting. 

During the meeting, the Council agreed that the CEC should lead initiatives to promote green building throughout the continent.

For more information about the CEC, visit www.cec.org.

Publication date: 07/09/2007