Earlier this week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe and Undersecretary Alonso Jiménez of Mexico's Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) participated in the 2025 United States-Mexico Border Program’s National Coordinators Meeting. The event marked 40 years of cooperation under the La Paz Agreement and was held at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC) in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico from September 10-11. The meeting included state, local, Indigenous, and Tribal leaders from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Today, I am reaffirming EPA’s continued commitment to strengthen our binational cooperation on the most pressing environmental challenges we face, including the climate crisis and advancing environmental equity,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “EPA is committed to continued collaboration with SEMARNAT, along with program partners, to improve the environmental and public health conditions for communities along our shared border.”
The meeting celebrated achievements in environmental and public health while addressing existing and emerging challenges. Key discussion points included tackling climate issues, promoting environmental justice and equity in line with U.S. Administration priorities, and incorporating Mexico’s indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities into environmental solutions as per Mexico's administration goals. Additionally, participants reviewed progress made over four decades since signing the La Paz Agreement.
“At the end of these meetings, we reaffirmed that bilateral cooperation is the best way to address the problems we face on our common border. From SEMARNAT, we will continue working with our colleagues from the EPA, state governments and local communities to achieve the objectives of the Border 2025 Program,” said SEMARNAT.
The program focuses on reducing air pollution through monitoring efforts, improving water quality via community workshops, promoting sustainable waste management practices such as wastewater reuse designs, and enhancing preparedness for hazardous environmental emergencies by evaluating emergency sister-city contingency plans. It also aims to address environmental equity among federally recognized Tribes as well as Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities along the border.
On August 21st a contract was announced for expanding San Diego's South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant alongside completing construction on Tijuana's San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant—key infrastructure projects addressing cross-border flows impacting both nations.
This meeting continues efforts towards developing a fifth strategic plan for U.S.-Mexico border cooperation under 1983’s La Paz Agreement which has seen significant strides made in resolving critical regional environmental issues since its inception.
The latest binational strategic planning emphasizes a regional community-level approach for decision-making prioritization project implementation aimed at overcoming various public health challenges within this region.
For more information visit: [U.S.-Mexico Border Program](#).
