Environmental organizations from the United States and Mexico are urging officials to use the upcoming review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as an opportunity to address the long-running pollution crisis affecting the Tijuana River watershed.
During a news conference Thursday, WILDCOAST, Sierra Club, the Tijuana River Coalition, 4 Walls International and other nonprofit organizations called for stronger environmental protections and long-term investments to tackle what they described as one of North America’s most serious cross-border environmental and public health challenges.
Groups seek stronger environmental commitments
Serge Dedina, executive director of WILDCOAST and former mayor of Imperial Beach, said the Trump administration’s decision to conduct an annual review of the USMCA creates an opportunity to incorporate stronger environmental provisions into the trade agreement.
According to the coalition, negotiators should include binding environmental commitments, stronger enforcement mechanisms and sustained funding to help reduce pollution that continues to affect coastal communities in both Southern California and Baja California.
“The message is clear: free trade and environmental protection must move forward together,” Dedina said, arguing that economic prosperity should not come at the expense of public health and environmental quality.
Coalition outlines policy recommendations
Charles Rilli, deputy director of Sierra Club, said the coalition represents communities on both sides of the border that share the same watershed and a common goal of ending pollution in the Tijuana River.
Among the group’s recommendations are:
- Binding environmental standards with enforceable consequences for violations.
- A rapid-response mechanism to address environmental breaches.
- A new binational body to regularly evaluate emerging environmental concerns.
- Long-term funding for operations and maintenance.
- A watershed-wide management strategy.
- Increased investment in water infrastructure.
- Continued funding and implementation of IBWC Minutes 320, 328 and 333.
The organizations said they have submitted a letter outlining their proposals to U.S. officials and hope the recommendations will be considered as negotiations move forward ahead of the next phase of the USMCA review process later this month.
