On February 7, after an arduous formulation process that began in 2019, the Government of Ecuador, through the Undersecretary of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (Ministerio de Ambiente, Agua y Transición Ecológica – MAATE), presented the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (Plan Nacional de Adaptación al Cambio Climático – PNA). This launch is a climate milestone and augurs well for achieving climate adaptation for the most vulnerable populations.

The PNA is conceived as a public policy tool that eases adaptation planning at national and sub-national levels. The plan offers information and inputs such as climate forecasts, hydro-meteorological information, tools to integrate the gender approach, response measures to identify differentiated changes in climate change, among other valuable information.

In his speech, Gustavo Manrique, Minister of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition, stated, “the solution is not at the end of the chain, we must change economic models of consumption for more resilient and inclusive models. This is how the PNA will help to improve the quality of life of Ecuadorian families. Now, implementation is the biggest challenge that involves all of us. In order to move towards this ecological transition, the collaboration of all sectors of the country is required. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to increase the adaptive capacity of Ecuador’s vulnerable systems. There is only one goal: to take care of the environment and leave a legacy for future generations.”

At the event, Undersecretary of Climate Change Karina Barrera announced the start of operation of the Information, Forecast, Climate Risk, and Adaptation to Climate Change System (Sistema de Información, Proyecciones, Riesgo Climático y Adaptación al Cambio Climático – SPRACC), which will provide relevant information on climate change adaptation to be considered within strategic planning at national, sectoral, and subnational levels.

“As a climate change adaptation project, we have worked together with the Undersecretary for Climate Change, using two inputs that contribute to the formulation of the PNA and the SPRACC. One of them is the climate risk study of the sectors of food sovereignty, agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries, which is one of the sectors prioritised in the plan; and the other input is the regulatory framework for Measurement, Reporting, and Verification for adaptation in the agriculture sector.” Andrés Mogro, National Coordinator of the Resilient Andes Project in Ecuador.

Andrés Mogro, Coordinador Nacional del Proyecto Andes Resilientes en Ecuador

The event included an exposition of artworks by the painter Oswaldo Guayasamín in the museum Capilla del Hombre, where various international cooperation institutions working with the Undersecretary of Climate Change in adaptation projects, including the Resilient Andes Project, made a photographic and informational montage of their actions with the 6 sectors prioritized by the PNA. 

Following are the sectors prioritised for the implementation of measures during 2023-2027: human settlements, water heritage, natural heritage, health, strategic productive sectors, and food sovereignty in agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, and fisheries. The plan will be implemented between 2023 and 2027. Resilient Andes hopes to continue collaborating with relevant information and activities to strengthen the capacities of officials in key sectors for the PNA implementation.

Download Plan Nacional de Adaptación al Cambio Climático 2023-2027 (Span)

Source: Resilient Andes Project / PNUD Ecuador

About Andes Resilient to Climate Change

The regional project “Andes Resilient to Climate Change” is promoted by Swiss Cooperation (SDC) and facilitated by the consortium Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation – Fundación Avina in partnership with the International Institute Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).  Resilient Andes is part of the Global Climate Change and Environment Programme of the Swiss Cooperation (SDC).  Its first phase will run from May 2020 to April 2024.

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