Tracking Cross-Border Money Movement
The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has released its latest report, "Taking Stock Online: North American Industrial Pollution," providing insights into the cross-border transfers of TRI chemicals between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The report, which combines data from the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and equivalent programs in Mexico and Canada, offers a comprehensive view of North American Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) data. This publicly accessible platform allows users to explore various pollutants and features search tools and an API for in-depth analysis.
In 2022, the majority of cross-border TRI chemical waste transfers by weight were directed towards Mexico and Canada, accounting for 84% of the total. The U.S. shipped the most TRI chemical waste to these two countries, with China and the Netherlands being the next largest recipients.
Mexico received the bulk of the TRI chemical waste from the U.S., with zinc making up 77% of the total weight. Conversely, the Netherlands primarily received organic chemicals (43% of the total weight). Transfers to Canada were mostly metals and chemicals commonly used as solvents.
Notably, almost all TRI chemical waste transfers to Mexico were for recycling, primarily of metals and metal compounds. Transfers to Canada were also predominantly for recycling, although they were more diversified, including metals and solvents.
The report does not provide a breakdown of the specific types of TRI chemical waste shipped to countries outside North America. However, it is known that the U.S. shipped TRI chemical waste to 22 countries in 2022, with significant amounts also going to South Korea, Belgium, and Turkey.
The majority of TRI chemical waste shipped outside North America went to China (31% by weight). The largest category of TRI chemical waste shipped to China was inorganic chemicals, making up 44% of the total weight.
This report represents the most current trinational emissions inventory and pollutant transfer data relevant to the tracking and analysis of toxic releases and transfers under the CEC. The CEC, an international collaboration between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, focuses on environmental issues and develops reports like this one to promote transparency and cooperation among the member countries.
- The report emphasizes the importance of recycling in managing TRI chemical waste, with the majority of transfers to Mexico and Canada being for this purpose.
- The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) encourages environmental science and lifelong learning through its reports, like "Taking Stock Online: North American Industrial Pollutant."
- The CEC report provides data and insights into the cross-border transfers of TRI chemicals between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in various sectors, such as manufacturing, retail, and transportation.
- In the realm of environmental-science, understanding and addressing climate-change requires the careful monitoring of pollutants, as demonstrated by the CEC's report on pollutant release and transfer.
- As businesses in the aerospace, real-estate, and home-and-garden industries evolve, they should consider the potential impacts on the environment, based on the findings in the CEC's report.
- The data and cloud-computing sector can provide valuable tools for analyzing and understanding the TRI chemical waste transfers presented in the CEC's report, promoting sustainable-living and data-driven decision making.
- Investors can take their commitment to sustainable-living and the environment one step further by considering the potential environmental impacts of their investments in various industries, as outlined in the CEC's report.
- On a broader scale, the educations and self-development community should use resources like the CEC's report to foster learning and advance the understanding of industrial pollution and its implications.
- Lifestyle choices play a role in the overall environmental impact, as highlighted by the CEC report, which reveals that TRI chemical waste transfers contribute significantly to climate-change and pollution.
- The sports and sports-betting industries can also contribute to the discussion on industrial pollution and sustainable-living by promoting awareness and supporting initiatives focused on environmental issues, inspired by the CEC's report.
- The CEC's report serves as a valuable resource for researchers and analysts in the field of science, particularly those studying climate-change and sustainable-living, by providing comprehensive data on TRI chemical waste transfers.
- Governments, industry, and local communities alike can use the insights gained from the CEC's report to develop policies and initiatives that promote a healthier environment and reduce the negative impacts of manufacturing, as outlined in the report's pollutant release and transfer data.
- In line with the emphasis on corporate environmental responsibility and sustainable-living, businesses should seriously consider the implications of the CEC's report on their operations and aim to reduce their carbon footprint by minimizing waste and harmful chemical emissions.
