Climate Change in Latin America - European Commission

Ecuador
National Coordination
Very high levels of coordination, with systematic
impact at a local level, at least in terms of adaptation
measures and collecting meteorological data.
International commitments
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, ratified in 1994.
Kyoto Protocol, ratified in 1999.
Adaptation and Mitigation Mechanisms
Agriculture
MINAGRI, National Programme for the Production of
Organic Material - Urban solid waste.
Energy
National Programme "Energy Revolution".
Waste
MINAGRI, Community Directors (Urban solid waste).
Forests and Water
National Programme for Soil Improvement and
Conservation; Nacional Programme for the Struggle
against Desertification and Drought (2003); National
Strategy for Environmental Education; National
Fund for the Environment; National Fund for Forest
Development; National Action Plan 2006/2010 on
Biological Diversity.
Risks
Directive N. 1 of the National Headquarters for
Civil Defence "For the planning, organisation and
preparation of the country for disaster situations".
Legal Structure
By Executive Decree 1815, issued on 1 July 2009,
Climate Change mitigation and adaptation was
declared a State Policy, and the Ministry of the
Environment of Ecuador (MAE), was named the
institution in charge of plans and strategy for
implementing inter-institutional actions and measures
in the fight against Climate Change. This decree
also granted the National Directorate of Climate
Change, Production and Sustainable Consumption
(DNCCPCS) of the Ministry of the Environment all
powers, functions, representation and delegations
specifically linked with the National Climate
Committee (CNC-1999), the primary authority of
Climate Change coordination at the national level.
This Directorate is now the governmental entity in
charge of Climate Change adaptation and mitigation
initiatives, integrating the component of production
and sustainable consumption, given their importance
in promoting civic consciousness and awareness in
the production and industrial sectors of the suitable
use of natural resources.
CDMs - Clean Development Mechanisms
Approved CDMs
Cuba has one CDM project approved, for the reconversion
of a gas distribution system in collaboration
with Canada.
Excellence in the prediction of hurricanes and
management of early warning systems for hurricanes
and other extreme events.
Functions
The functions defined by the DNCCPCS with respect
to Climate Change are as follows: (a) Comply
with the functioning of the Designated Nation
Authrity, which reports to the Executive Board of
the UNFCCC; (b) Coordinate the formulation of
policies and strategies for Climate Change internally
and externally; (c) Promote measures that serve
to strengthen national resources for adaptation to
Climate Change; (d) Promote measures that serve
to reduce the net emission of greenhouse gases; (e)
Determine the criteria of promotion, evaluation and
monitoring of CDM projects; (f) Evaluate and carry
out monitoring of the approvals of CDM projects; (g)
Coordinate and review national criteria and positions
in international negotiations in conjunction with other
state organisations; (h) Promote the implementation
of strategies and measures for clean production
sustainable consumption.
Human resources
From 1996 to 2006, the issue of Climate Change
was supported strongly through numerous projects,
most notably: CAF-Programa Latinoamericano
del Carbono (Latin American Carbon Programme)
(PLAC); UNITAR, UNEP/Risø's Project CD4CDM,
UNEP. In addition, through the Carbon Finance Assist
Program, the World Bank has supported activities
related to the promotion of CDMs.
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