National Development Plan for the New Ecuador (2024–2025)

The National Development Plan for the New Ecuador (2024–2025) is the country’s roadmap for sustainable and equitable development, mandated by Ecuador’s Constitution (arts. 3, 279, and 280), which requires the state to plan for national development, eradicate poverty, and promote sustainable resource management. The plan, guided by the principles of “Buen Vivir” (Good Living) and participatory governance, aims to align public policies, programs, and investments with national priorities. It is structured around four pillars: (1) social development; (2) economic development; (3) infrastructure, energy, and environment; and, (4) institutional and risk management. On climate change, the plan integrates mitigation and adaptation actions into key sectors to foster low-emission, climate-resilient development. It emphasises conserving and restoring natural resources, promoting sustainable land use, and adopting circular economy models to reduce environmental contamination. Additionally, it strengthens disaster risk reduction frameworks and promotes the resilience of critical infrastructure to climate-related hazards. Water security is a key focus, with efforts to expand access to potable water, irrigation, and sanitation in the context of climate vulnerabilities. Equally, the plan sets measurable climate goals, including increasing land under hydrological protection, reducing climate vulnerability through enhanced adaptive capacity, and improving waste recovery rates.