Bilateral Relations

Canada — Germany

Environment Canada has a successful scientific and technological cooperation with Germany under the 1971 Canada/Germany Framework Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation. Several joint projects with German scientists from research centres and technical universities are underway. Activities consist of joint research and studies, technology transfer, joint publications, lectures and exchanges of information.

In 1990, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Environmental Cooperation was signed between Environment Canada and the German Ministry of Environment, with a view to strengthen the cooperation on environmental policy. Workshops were held on climate change, waste management and wastewater treatment technology. There were also fact-finding missions to Canada in the fields of national parks, air pollution and water management. There is currently no bilateral activity under the MOU.

Illustration of Work

The objectives of the agreement are to facilitate and encourage scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges of information and personnel between agencies, research organizations and enterprises in the public and private sectors in both countries. There are several projects under the S&T Agreement, focusing on atmosphere, ecotoxicology, microbiology, water and sediments, and remediation. The individual projects are connected by three networks: ecosystem health; remediation of contaminated soil, sediment and water; and energy and water transfer in climate systems. S&T consultations take place every two years to review progress in the bilateral cooperation and discuss new collaborative efforts for the future. The last biennal consultations were held in Niagara-on-the-lake in October 1999. The next one will take place in Germany in 2001 and will commemorate the 30^th anniversary of the agreement.