ABSTRACT
The original definition of sustainable development is generally agreed to be: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The chapter describes how South American countries are performing according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and, in those goals that are closely related to real estate development. It explains the SDGs and their predecessors, the Millennium Development Goals, which concluded in 2015. The chapter describes the New Urban Agenda signed in Quito in 2016. It presents intended, nationally determined contributions agreed during the 21st Conference of the Parties in Paris 2015 to combat climate change. The chapter evaluates how the Big Five are performing by following a series of international indicators. It also evaluates each of the Big Five countries and their current policies in order to point out the best practices as well as shortcomings. The chapter concludes with policy recommendations for the region.
