May 7-8, 2025 Quito, Ecuador
From May 7-8, the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCFTF) participated in the “Cumbre de Acción Territorial Sostenible 2025,” organized by the Consortium for Autonomous Provincial Governments of Ecuador (CONGOPE) and other partners, in Quito, Ecuador. The event featured panels, networking, and bilateral discussions focused on climate change, sustainable development, territorial planning, and financing.
A key outcome of this important summit was the May 7 signing of a Letter of Intent between CONGOPE, the Secretariats of the GCFTF and Regions4, Nature and Culture International (NCI), and Governors of three GCFTF member provinces of Ecuador – Morona Santiago, Pastaza, and Zamora Chinchipe – and the Confederation of Indigenous Nations of the Ecuadorian Amazon (CONFENIAE), in support of the Amazon Platform for Forests, the Climate, and Human Wellbeing (Plataforma Amazonica por los Bosques, el Clima y el Bienestar Humano). In particular, this collaboration is intended to advance and strengthen the management of the Plataforma Amazonica and to explore mechanisms to promote the Platform, analyze opportunities for provincial governments and CONFENIAE through exchanges of experience and joint fundraising, and identify opportunities for provincial and indigenous leaders to participate in international venues such as climate and biodiversity conventions.
The GCFTF, represented by Project Director Jason Gray, Country Director for Ecuador Bruno Paladines, and supported by NCI’s long-time engagement with provinces and CONFENIAE, expressed the ongoing commitment of this network to support its members and collaborate with key partners on advancing the goals of the Plataforma Amazonica.
On May 8, together with Prefect Tiyua Uyunkar (Morona Santiago) and Regions4 Director Jordan Harris, participated on a panel entitled “Towards COP30 in Belem: Proposals from Local Governments” to highlight the importance of subnational governments in the design, implementation, and financing of climate and territorial actions.
This summit helped set the stage for GCFTF members from Ecuador to participate in the GCFTF Annual Meeting in Acre, Brazil at the end of the month and in COP30 later this year.
A copy of the Letter of Intent is available here.
More information on the Plataforma Amazonica is available here.