As well, under the new Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which is currently before our Parliament, we will have a more efficient process to identify, screen, assess and manage toxic substances. And I am pleased to announce today that we are targeting for elimination the same 12 POPs that are being considered for global action today. As we have done previously, we will continue to share our findings so that the global community can benefit from our experience. But we are here because domestic action is not enough. Not when most of the POPs of concern in Canada come through long-range atmospheric transport from outside the country.
Every country here has a role to play in protecting their global neighbours from POPs.
And Canada has a role to play in protecting all of your countries. Concerted global action is needed. That is why Canada, the United States, and Mexico have worked together to develop regional action plans to reduce the threat in North America of PCBs, DDT, and Chlordane. That is why Canada chaired a group of experts that prepared the basis for the UN ECE POPs negotiations. These global negotiations, starting today will not be easy.