Strong environmental institutions, laws and policies and their effective enforcement, effective implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements, and a civil society actively engaged in environmental decision-making and enforcement are key factors in ensuring that CAFTA-DR governments comply with their free trade agreement obligations.  Theme A focuses on three areas to help ensure environmental laws and policies provide for and encourage high levels of environmental protection and are effectively enforced.

• Environmental Laws, Regulations, Policies, and Procedures.  To strengthen environmental laws, regulations, policies and procedures in the following areas:  (1) environmental impact assessment; (2) wastewater management; (3) solid waste management; (4) chemical and hazardous substance management; (5) urban air quality management; and (6) administrative procedures for filing environmental claims. 

• Environmental Law Enforcement, Governance, and Capacity Development.   To improve enforcement of environmental laws by (1) training inspectors, prosecutors, investigators, judges, and other law enforcement officers on investigating, prosecuting, and adjudicating violations of civil and criminal environmental laws; (2) providing technical assistance to wastewater analytical laboratories; (3) improving coordination of officials responsible for enforcing laws related to ensuring the sustainability of fisheries in the region; (4) training customs officials to identify shipments that potentially violate obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and (6) developing environmental compliance and enforcement indicators.
  
  
• Public Participation and Transparency to Support Informed Decision-making.  To foster a civil society that is actively engaged in environmental decision-making and helping to enforce environmental laws—a crucial factor in ensuring the sustainability of the Environment Cooperation Program’s work, ensuring that governments are effectively enforcing their environmental laws, and creating a general culture of environmental protection and sustainable development.  Easy access to reliable environmental information is a first step in engaging society.  Creating forums and other institutionalized processes for public involvement is another step.  A third critical step is educating the public about opportunities and methods for engaging in environmental decision-making.