The UK is seen by many countries, including Ecuador, as a world leader on the subject of climate change. Much of our work as an Embassy here relates to sharing the UK's experience, expertise, and thinking on the environment and on climate change with our partners  and stakeholders in Ecuador. One of our main objectives will be to help to influence the Ecuadorian government towards adoption of British best practice in environmental matters, in particular PP10 and climate change – and to promote UK business expertise in low carbon technologies. 

With partners both from Ecuador and Europe, we hope to organise an important series of events in various cities around the country this year using the BBC Planet Earth series as a valuable tool to raise awareness about climate change and what we all need to do to limit its impact. This will include a follow-up to the successful Ecological Footprint event held in 2007, and the promotion of DEFRA's "Act on Co2" campaign.

We are pleased to say that we as an Embassy have been playing an active part in reducing our own environmental impact. We hope to be awarded "Smart Embassy" certification in the very near future in recognition of our innovations in for example work processes, energy saving, and raised awareness of environmental issues both in our offices and homes. This will be the first time that an Embassy in Quito will have been awarded such ceritification.

Climate Change is everyone's business...

BUILDING A HIGH GROWTH, LOW CARBON ECONOMY

Speech held by Jim Murphy, Member of Parliament, on June 25, 2008 during a Conference at the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI).