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Council of Great Lakes Industry's Vision for the Great Lakes Region

The Great Lakes Basin is endowed with a natural regional identity through its supply of 20% of the world's fresh water resources, productive labor force, highly-ranked educational institutions, diverse transportation system and integrated manufacturing supply network. The region is also unique because it is binational. Cooperation among the two national governments, the Great Lakes States and Provinces and other regional stakeholders is needed to meet common goals. The protection and responsible use of the distinctive natural environment of the region and a healthy and competitive regional economy are dependent on each other.

The Great Lakes Region is also distinctive in that it has become a proving ground for the development of regional policies that could have and have had significant impact on other areas of the United States and Canada. It is important to focus on a broad spectrum of objectives, rather than on a single objective, to achieve sustainable development and obtain the desired outcomes for the Great Lakes and the people of the region. Our region is known throughout the world for its environmental leadership and our success in "cleaning up" and preserving our lakes will have far reaching effects.

Our vision for the future, which we are working to achieve, has been shaped by many of the region's stakeholders. Essential to achieving the following breadth of vision within the Great Lakes basin, is broad implementation of an equitable public. How the region's emerging issues are addressed by all participants in the Great Lakes region policy process. It is the best way to harness all of the region's energy and resources behind a collective vision. This requires that policy in the region is created and implemented utilizing the best science and risk/benefit principles and is based on an integrated view of economic, societal and environmental health and safety issues.

Working together, the members of the CGLI along with the governments of the U.S., Canada, States and Provinces; educational institutions; public and private agencies; and the hundreds of public interest groups focused on the Great Lakes region can achieve this vision of a region for future generations.

Our Vision for the Environment

CGLI's vision for the future of the Great Lakes environment is one that includes lakes which are appreciated for their beauty, healthful to mankind and to wildlife, and useful to the population. This vision of our lakes may be measured by the following criteria:

Fishability
No restrictions on the human consumption of fish as a result of the presence of contaminants in the lakes.

Swimmability
No bathing beaches being closed as a result of human activities.

Drinkability
Treated drinking water is safe for human consumption.

Healthy Human Populations
Human populations in the Great Lakes basin are healthy and free from acute illness associated with high levels of chemical or microbiological contaminants, or chronic illness associated with long-term exposure to low levels of contaminants in the Great Lakes.

Biological Community Integrity and Diversity
Evolutionary cycles that encourage the diversity of biological communities and the genetic variation within species are maintained

Physical Environment Integrity
Wetlands are restored in appropriate areas, land use is well planned and sustainable forestry practices are used. Progress in land planning and funding for restoration of wetlands is achieved.

Achieving our environmental vision requires that:

• The public recognizes that current industrial practices in protecting the environment and disposing of wastes are significantly better than historic practices.

• Public policy discussion, decisions and agreements include the principles of prioritized risk, risk assessment and cost-benefit considerations, in other words, consistent with sustainable development principles.

• The best science is used to guide public policy and governmental actions as well as decisions made in the corporate boardroom. For example, mass balance modeling (that includes atmospheric deposition) is utilized as a tool to guide priorities and programs. Potential human health and environmental impacts of chemicals are evaluated scientifically for hazard potential. Exposure assessments are required for risk determinations.

• All companies and business organizations, large and small, have implemented product stewardship programs that evaluate their own products throughout their life cycles for environmental and human health impacts. Through these evaluations, manufacturers identify the action needed to eliminate unreasonable risks and maintain absence of harm for habitat, wildlife and humans.

• Government, environmental groups and the general public recognize industrial leadership in addressing environmental and human health issues and the value in working together to resolve real problems.

Success is achieved in important initiatives such as: -- Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy
Inputs of persistent, toxic, bioaccumulating and bioavailable substances are virtually eliminated to below levels of significance in point source, non-point source and combined sewer overflow discharges.

When pursuing environmental policy directions requiring a precautionary approach, it is necessary to include the cost-effective application of UNCED Agenda 21 Principle 15. ¹

Our Vision for Land Use

Previously developed land in the region is recycled for new uses and is more attractive for new development than land that has never been developed (greenfields).

Achieving our vision requires that:

• Long-term land usage determines the degree of remediation in the reclamation of brownfield or orphaned sites.

• Investment is directed at both brownfield/urban reinvestment as well as greenfield development with cost advantages given for brownfields to utilize existing infrastructure.

• The political environment is supportive and regulators employ an "absence of harm" definition in their oversight activities.

Our Vision for Transportation

A competitive regional transportation system that includes integrated multi-modal transport and is the envy of the industrial world.

Achieving our vision requires:

• A regular review of systemic inefficiencies and commitments to resolve them.

• A uniform set of rules and regulations for Canadian/U.S. transport in the Great Lakes regions including materials that are flammable and/or toxic.

• A balance of truck, rail, water borne transport that takes in account the energy/environmental/system cost.

Our Vision for Manufacturing Supply Chain Integration

The complex network of suppliers in the region are so well interconnected with their customers that these manufacturers have increased market responsiveness and a distinct competitive advantage globally.

Achieving our vision requires that:

• New dynamic business relationships among firms in the region are the norm, reducing cycle time and capital required to deliver outstanding product.

• The existence of a supplier community whose business systems are well integrated with their customers and vice versa. These systems include design systems, QS or ISO 9000 and 14000, SPC, Total Quality Management, error free electronic commerce, and new systems for order management/business information communication and supply chain scheduling.

Our Vision for the Region's Energy Use

The Great Lakes region leads the way on energy efficiency in manufacturing, in reducing overall energy consumption, and in greenhouse gas emissions.

Achieving our vision requires:

• National Energy and Global Climate Change policy that does not place disproportionate burden on the Great Lakes Region.

• All sectors of the economy-- including agriculture, utilities, industry, commerce, small business, transportation and individuals-- make a recognizable contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

• The region's industry innovating both process and product technologies to become a world provider of energy efficiency/green house gas reducing technologies.

• Incentives are in place to achieve continued improvements - incentives that are equal across the board and encourage a broad range of participation.

Our Vision for Regional Trade

The binational Great Lakes region achieves truly barrier-free trade within the region and demonstrates to the world how to improve trade flows and reap benefit from free trade.

Achieving our vision requires:

• Recognition of the special nature of significant trading relationships between Canada and the United States in the Great Lakes basin.

• Removal of the non-tariff barriers currently deployed amongst states, provinces and U.S. and Canada.

We look forward to working with the Great Lakes region stakeholders to continuing our progress further defining and achieving this vision for the Great Lakes Region.

¹ "In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation."