DETROIT — Natural Resources Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed an agreement to co-operate and share information on environmental projects.

The two agencies will work jointly with freight and shipping industries to take voluntary actions to save fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants.

NRCan and the EPA will initially coordinate numerous cross-border emissions projects, including “engine-idling reduction from trucks crossing the frontier, joint clean-technology promotions and demonstrations, and truck driver training and awareness programs.”

On the latter front, the two organizations have unique but complementary approaches to saving fuel and reducing emissions.

NRCan’s FleetSmart program, for example, is an educational and training-based initiative that focuses on fuel-efficient driver behaviour. EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership emphasizes the use of innovative technology by rail and heavy-duty fleets. “Blending the two will benefit the North American freight and shipping industries,” the agencies stated in a release.

“This agreement allows our two countries and the North American freight and shipping industries to address the problem of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change much more effectively than we can individually,” said John Efford, Canada’s minister of natural resources.