The Ministry of Environment and Energy announced on March 3 the official start of developing Ecuador’s National Strategy for Sustainable Production and Consumption (ENPCS). The launch event, held at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, brought together more than 100 representatives from government, private sector, academia, civil society, and international cooperation organizations.
The initiative aims to align economic growth with environmental preservation and efficient resource use. According to the ministry, this process is part of the government’s commitment to balancing productivity with protecting natural heritage.
The ENPCS is guided by the Organic Environmental Code and its regulations. It will focus on five pillars: sustainable production, sustainable consumption, sustainable food systems, sustainable value chains, and an enabling framework to ensure implementation.
During her remarks at the event, Acting Minister Alicia Jaramillo said that sustainability “is no longer just an environmental agenda but an indispensable condition for the country’s development.” She added: “Producing cannot mean exhausting resources; it must mean optimizing, innovating, and regenerating,” emphasizing that ecological transition is key for Ecuadorian products to access both national and international markets.
The process has support from the United Nations Development Programme through Proyecto Ecuador Verde as well as technical assistance from international partners such as the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Germany’s GIZ Ecoadvance Project. A symbolic moment during the event featured participants assembling a digital puzzle representing their roles in transforming unsustainable production and consumption models. The ministry completed the puzzle with a piece symbolizing public sector involvement.
With this launch, Ecuador begins a transparent and participatory process that will include further dialogue spaces. The ministry said acting now means innovation, job creation, strengthening local economies, and ensuring a greener future for coming generations.
