The 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement represented a commitment by Canada and the United States to co-operate in restoring and protecting the freshwater lakes — a revolutionary move that is still an international model, says John Hartig, a visiting scholar at the University of Windsor’s Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research.

In the half-century since, the countries identified 43 of the most polluted areas as “areas of concern,” and have improved nine of them to the point where they’re no longer listed, he notes in an article by Abi Hayward published in Canadian Geographic.

“It’s really important to celebrate 50 years and recognize how far we’ve come,” Dr. Hartig says. “But, you know, the ultimate goal is sustainability. That’s where we want to be, and we’re not there. So, we’ve got more to do.”

Read the entire piece, “A multination effort to restore the Great Lakes: A watershed moment.”