The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with Mexico’s Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, announced the signing of the U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program: Border 2025 document on May 24, 2021.
It advances the commitment of the two countries to protect the environment and public health along the U.S.-Mexico border. The border area’s population growth, fueled in part by dramatic industrial growth, is expected to double over the next 20 years. Infrastructure and ecosystems are expected to face serious challenges concerning water quality and quantity, as well as pollution and waste management.
The framework proposes a five-year (2021-2025), binational environmental program including four strategic goals to address the environmental and public health challenges focusing on improving air and water quality, promoting clean land, and strengthening preparedness and response to environmental emergencies.
The program encourages meaningful participation from communities and local stakeholders within 62 miles on either side of the 2000-mile border between the United States and Mexico.
The 2025 binational environmental agreement includes key groundwater factors: sharing transboundary water quality data and improving landfill operation practices to ensure leachate collection to protect groundwater sources.