Ecuador 2036 Sustainable Habitat Agenda (ahse 2036)

The "Ecuador 2036 Sustainable Habitat Agenda (AHSE 2036) " is a national planning tool that establishes long-term sustainable planning guidelines through strategic actions related to land use and management, adapted to local conditions and needs. It seeks to guide collective urban public policies, complementing current public policies, legislations and national regulations. The main objectives of the Ecuadorean Agenda are based on avoiding uncontrolled urban sprawl, promoting responsible urban development in built and natural environments; defining sustainable habitat and housing public policies, and achieving more equitable, productive and sustainable cities. It emphasizes co-responsible governance, that include the participation of all actors of society. This Agenda incorporates the sustainable guidelines of the New Urban Agenda, the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It establishes four guiding principles defined through participatory processes, addressing main issues, visions and approaches towards sustainable urban development in Ecuador: Environmental Sustainability, Productivity, Equitable Social Development, and Governance.

It marked a significant milestone for Ecuador during Covid-19 in 2020, responding to achieve safe and healthy habitats through sustainable urban solutions, especially tackling the effects of climate change, from floods, landslides, extreme heatwaves and sea level rise in the country. Ecuador, through the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing, published the agenda as an opportunity to position and elevate the debate on urban development in Ecuador, generating concerted action of multiple actors of different sectors, based on their commitments and follow-up. This agenda recognizes that effective solutions must emerge locally, from the community level to national government, rooted in citizen participation and multisectoral collaboration.