It is a pleasure to extend greetings and best wishes to this timely Mayoral Summit on Climate Change.

I welcome Ecuador's leadership by example on this critical issue. On initiatives ranging from hydropower usage and local conservation of forests to the voluntary preservation of underground oil reserves at Yasuni National Park, Ecuador is demonstrating that much can be done to combat climate change.

Now more than ever, we need actions such as these at the local, municipal and national levels that can pave the way to a greener, more prosperous, clean-energy future for all.

As mayors, you play an important leadership role in curbing emissions and strengthening resilience within your communities. I encourage you to join forces, share ideas and learn from each other's efforts.

We must also work together as a global community to meet this global challenge. In November, governments will gather in Durban, South Africa, for the UNFCCC climate negotiations. I urge all Parties to meet in a spirit of cooperation, compromise and collaboration.

Climate change was not created overnight, and it will not be solved overnight.

This Summit is an important step along this path. I wish you much success.