On February 12, 2016, the energy minister and energy secretaries from Canada, Mexico and the United States met for the North American Energy Ministers Meeting in Winnipeg, where the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Climate Change and Energy Collaboration. The countries also announced a web platform where North American energy information can be accessed in one place. The MOU represents a step towards a continental energy strategy, under which Canada, Mexico and the US will collaborate and share information in six key areas:
- Sharing experience and knowledge in the development of reliable, resilient and low-carbon electricity grids.
- Modeling, deploying and accelerating innovation of clean energy technologies, including renewables.
- Exchanging information in order to improve energy efficiency for equipment, appliances, industries and buildings, including energy management systems.
- Exchanging information and promoting joint action to advance the deployment of carbon capture, use and storage.
- Identifying trilateral activities to further climate change adaptation and resilience.
- Sharing best practices and seeking methods to reduce emissions from the oil and gas sector, including methane and black carbon.
As noted above, the three countries have announced a web platform for sharing information on energy resources in North America. The North American Cooperation on Energy Information (NACEI) was initiated in 2014 and sought to develop resources for:
- comparing, validating, and improving respective energy import and export information;
- sharing publicly available geospatial information related to energy infrastructure;
- exchanging views and information on projections of cross-border energy flows; and
- harmonizing terminology, concepts and definitions of energy products.
With the launch of the NACEI, North American energy information is now available on one platform and includes:
- Energy Trade Data: Data tables covering traded energy between the three countries, as well as a methodological guide explaining the attributes of each data source. A detailed cross reference of terminology and a common set of conversion factors are also available.
- North American Energy Maps: A series of maps of energy infrastructure and a multi-layered interactive mapping site are available and will be augmented as additional GIS data is verified.
- Energy Outlooks: Reports describing and comparing the outlooks for energy trade across the continent.
Further discussions on a continental energy strategy are expected when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with President Barack Obama in March 2016.