The Economic and Social Council opened its annual forum on financing for development follow-up today with speakers warning that a convergence of crises — the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and debt unsustainability — have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, threatening to reverse development gains by a generation.

With more than half the world’s people living in cities and the fastest population growth projected to take place in urban settings, sustainable development will hinge on how countries manage urbanization, the Economic and Social Council President told delegates today, as he opened the special meeting on the New Urban Agenda amid calls for tackling the deep inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Economic and Social Council today filled vacancies and nominated experts for 16 subsidiary bodies, both by secret ballot and acclamation, with some delegates expressing reservations about certain newly-elected members.

Reforming the current international corporate tax regime is critical to rebuilding trust and creating a new social contract between companies, Governments and citizens, the Economic and Social Council heard today, as members held their annual meeting on international cooperation in tax matters.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks to the Economic and Social Council Special Meeting on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, in New York today:

Following are Un Secretary-General  António Guterres’ remarks to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as a follow-up to the report entitled Our Common Agenda, in New York today:

The Economic and Social Council met today to take action on a wide variety of issues, from human rights questions related to narcotic drugs and the improvement of the financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to enhancing international cooperation on tax matters.

Following is the text of UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s video message to the Economic and Social Council Partnership Forum on “Building back better from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda”, held virtually, today:

With support for the United Nations, the world’s regions are fighting back against a lopsided global COVID-19 recovery, working at the nexus of economic and sustainable development to build their productive capacities, address the climate crisis and reduce the risk of future pandemics, the Economic and Social Council’s coordination segment heard today as it concluded its inaugural session.

The Economic and Social Council today convened its first‑ever coordination segment, hearing from experts and delegates alike on how best to lay a path for tackling climate change, realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and forging an inclusive, resilient COVID-19 recovery plan.