The role of public administration in the implementation of environmental sustainability policies in Ecuador

The current global context, characterized by low economic growth, growing social inequality and continued environmental degradation, underscores the urgent need to adopt a sustainable development model. Ecuador, a country endowed with unique biodiversity, faces significant challenges arising from climate change, deforestation and overexploitation of its natural resources. Despite a legal framework that recognizes the rights of nature, these problems persist, highlighting the urgent need to implement more effective environmental public policies. The objective of this study is to analyze the role of public administration in the implementation of environmental policies aimed at sustainable development in Ecuador, as well as to identify the practices that have proven to be effective, the obstacles faced by these policies, and the areas that require improvement. To achieve this objective, a qualitative and descriptive methodology was employed based on an exhaustive document review and semi-structured interviews with government officials, environmental experts and civil society representatives. The data obtained were analyzed using a content analysis approach, which made it possible to identify key patterns and relationships in the formulation and implementation of public policies in the environmental field. The results indicate that, although public administration plays a fundamental role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of environmental policy, it faces several limitations. Among the main challenges are the lack of coordination among government institutions, insufficient financial resources for environmental policy implementation, and the absence of a clear and coherent policy framework to effectively address the country's environmental problems.