PR EPA, PAHO SIGN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES

PR EPA, PAHO SIGN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1994

PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE AMERICAS WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

EPA, PAHO SIGN AGREEMENT ON COOPERATIVE ACTIVITIES

Miami, Dec. 10, 1994 -- As part of the environmental agenda at the Summit of the Americas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today signed a broad memorandum of understanding agreeing to cooperate in environmental and health protection in the Americas.

The agreement, signed here today by EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner and PAHO Director, Dr. Carlyle Guera de Macedo, is based on the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Sustainable Development. It states that EPA and PAHO, which "reorganize the importance of environmental protection to the health and wellbeing of present and future generations of the Western Hemisphere," wish to share and exchange expertise, knowledge and resources to promote technical cooperation on environment and health issues.

The two agencies agree to cooperate in improved environmental decisionmaking; increased application of environmental management tools and principles; increased information on environmental protection; research, and other goals related to improved environment and health management.

PAHO, which serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, is an international agency whose mission is to fight disease, prolong life, and improve living standards in the Americas. The Organization works closely with its 35 Member Government's ministries of health and other national institutions in the health, education, environment and agriculture sectors.

EPA is the U.S. Government agency with domestic responsibility for protection of the environment including as it relates to human health, and it also provides technical assistance and capacity-building in environmental protection and environmental health to countries throughout the Western Hemisphere.

A wide range of cooperative activities is foreseen as part of the agreement, including monitoring and assessment, chemical safety, risk assessment, natural disaster preparedness, solid or hazardous waste reduction, pollution prevention, environmental information management, public awareness, and other areas.

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