This progress also reflects the past courage and willingness of the governments to deal with environmental problems of the Great Lakes. In the future, the United States and Canada cannot afford to retreat from their mutual commitments to protect their shared resource. The federal governments in the U.S. and Canada must lead the effort, but others, such as industry, environmental non-governmental organizations, Native Americans and First Nations, labor and the public, all have roles and responsibilities. The Great Lakes community as a whole is bound together by the common goal of restoring and protecting the Great Lakes. All stakeholders make positive contributions to solutions from their own perspective and by applying their unique talents and expertise.
None has a monopoly on the answers.
There is a fear that many have become too set in their respective roles to effectively tackle the arduous path that lies ahead. Governments at all levels and other stakeholders are encouraged to examine their approach to and role in governance of the Great Lakes with a view to incorporating changes necessary to restore and protect them. Continued diligence to meet the Agreement's goals becomes even more crucial as the evidence of damage to fish, wildlife and humans from exposure to persistent toxic substances continues to mount. These substances, which last decades in the environment and move among living species up the food chain, have been shown to impact humans at various stages of development. Injury has occurred in the past, is occurring today and, unless society acts now to further reduce the concentration of persistent toxic substances in the environment, the injury will continue in the future.