SCERP's Border Institute Series

The Border Institutes enable senior-level local, state, national and international planners and decision-makers to meet, become informed of issues and options, and discuss best alternatives for the environmental future of the U.S.-Mexican border region.

Border Institute I
brought together approximately sixty community leaders. Members of the private sector; representatives of nonprofit organizations; university researchers; and local, state, and federal government officials from the United States and Mexico came together to discuss how to ensure the future environmental quality and economic development of the border by the year 2020. The Institute established the basic features of the border including demographic momentum, economic development, institutions of change, and a vision for the border's environment in 2020.

Border Institute II
investigated the economy and environment, including ways of reinventing and reinvigorating the economy in order to bring prosperity and support infrastructure construction; integrating 'natural capitalism' to support sustainable economic development; investing in environmental infrastructure; and developing new finance mechanisms for border communities.

The overall theme of Border Institute III was "Trade, Energy, and the Environment Challenges and Opportunities in the Border Region: Now and in 2002." The Institute established a permanent SCERP energy program, the purpose of which is to develop sound policy recommendations; facilitate, streamline, and make trade more efficient; review, minimize, and mitigate for environmental and ecological effects; encourage renewable sourcing, efficient use, and clean exchanges; and minimize and address resulting human health impacts.

Border Institute IV
focused on general binational water issues; interdependence of water; border water demand budgets, balances, projections, and future scenarios; sustainability and water reuse; cross-jurisdictional water cooperation case studies; and policies for secure and sustainable water. [Executive Summary in English] [Resumen en español]

Border Institute V
Titled "The State of the Border and the Health of its Citizens: Multinational Indicators of Progress, 1990-2020," the 2003 Border Institute, or Border Institute V, explores measurable indicators of human environmental health and risk to the toxics, pathogens, hazardous materials, and other threats unique to the area. Several papers have been identified so far, others are being solicited. [Border Institute V Papers] [EXECUTIVE SUMMARY]

Border Institute VI
The sixth Border Institute took place in April, 2004 and addressed the challenge of binational ecosystem conservation.

Border Institute VII
Scheduled for April 18-20, 2005, the seventh Border Institute will address the issues regarding transboundary air pollution and air quality management.

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