[{"bbox": [100, 89, 337, 121], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [100, 154, 248, 181], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [112, 201, 393, 226], "category": "Section-header", "text": "#### Political and Financial context"}, {"bbox": [110, 240, 1145, 479], "category": "Text", "text": "Ecuador's governments, irrespective of their political orientation, talk seriously about addressing environmental challenges. The left-leaning government of Rafael Correa introduced the rights of nature for the first time in a constitution in 2008², whereas the current liberal government placed the Ecological Transition as one of the key pillars of the development plan when taking office in mid-2021. Ecuador gained international recognition in the COP-26 (2021) by making several pledges, one of which was the extension of the Galápagos marine reserve, signalling to the world its environmental credentials. In parallel, all governments continue to exploit natural resources such as oil or minerals, whereas other illegal predatory practices persist, often with negative environmental externalities, making it one of the major bones of contention between the authorities and contestant activist groups."}, {"bbox": [110, 490, 1146, 810], "category": "Text", "text": "Ecuador has developed no few public policy instruments and initiatives related to the protection of the environment, fighting climate change and promoting the circular economy, such as the (a) National Development Plan called “Creation of opportunities 2021 – 2025” containing the Ecological Transition as one of the 5 guiding pillars, the (b) National Decarbonisation Plan, (c) the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change, (d) the Ecuador Carbon Zero Programme, (e) the National Biodiversity Strategy, (f) the Law on Circular Economy (2021), (g) (h) the Strategy to strengthen public-private partnerships, (i) the National Climate Financing Strategy, (j) the New Urban Agenda, or (k) the National Bioeconomy Pact, among others³. The National Development Plan (NDP) 2021-2025 is structured in 5 axes, including the Ecological Transition axis, which includes 3 objectives, 9 policies and 17 goals. The objectives of the NDP are to conserve, restore, protect, and make sustainable use of natural resources; promote sustainable development models by implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation measures; and promote the integral management of water resources."}, {"bbox": [110, 821, 1146, 1061], "category": "Text", "text": "The Ecological Transition refers to a new model of development. This new model includes a transition towards sustainable production, consumption, energy use and industrial and agricultural practices. Mainstreaming of circular economy principles and practices is key to this new development model. With this background, the Ecological Transition becomes an opportunity to articulate these different efforts into a coherent policy, legal, regulatory, and financial framework, the Green Deal for Ecuador, mirroring what the EU does inside its borders. In particular, the EU will promote a Green Deal for Ecuador. This initiative, through the above-mentioned actions, should achieve results including: i. a clear impact on the diminution of Greenhous Gas (GHG) emissions; ii. economic green climate intelligent economic growth based in a circular economy and iii. inclusion of people who have lost their jobs in the pandemic and could engage in green and productive ventures."}, {"bbox": [110, 1072, 1146, 1232], "category": "Text", "text": "The country has a multitude of environmental policies, laws, norms, and strategies but there is an overall lack of common vision to deal with such problems. There is no coordination between the central government and the subnational governments (provincial, municipal, and parochial). Small, medium, and big businesses and industries lack clear environmental visions and strategies. The same occurs with different guilds and with indigenous communities. With a lack of vision for all the above-mentioned actors comes along a lack of implementation modalities for their initiatives and programmes."}, {"bbox": [110, 1243, 1145, 1324], "category": "Text", "text": "The environmental challenges that Ecuador faces need a large, coordinated, response enshrined in a new economic and social model. The Ecological Transition is a concept that needs to be understood and landed in a practical way in territories (provinces and cantons), institutions and in the minds and hearts of citizens."}, {"bbox": [100, 1451, 1158, 1573], "category": "Footnote", "text": "² Although, Ecuador is the first country in the world to recognise Rights of Nature in its Constitution, the protection of nature and leading the country towards the path of sustainability is a reality. Art 14. Declares that right of people to live in a healthy and ecologically balanced environment that guarantees sustainability and supports good living “sumak kawsay”. Art. 15 declares the obligation by the State to promote use of environmentally friendly technologies. Art. 74 declares the people’s right to benefit from the environment and the natural wealth to live well."}, {"bbox": [100, 1572, 1158, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "³ The NDCs represent targets and actions for the post-2020 period. Ecuador's NDC includes: An unconditional goal of reducing 9% of its GHG emissions for the energy, industrial processes, agriculture, and waste sectors; and conditional to international support and cooperation, the commitment goes up to 20.9%."}, {"bbox": [1051, 1666, 1158, 1690], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 29"}]