Economic and Social Council

The rhetoric must become a reality when it came to development assistance, the Economic and Social Council heard today, as its high-level segment ended, concluding two weeks in which ministers and other senior Government officials considered key items that would make the post-2015 development agenda a success.

Commencing its Development Cooperation Forum, the Economic and Social Council explored the shape that assistance, investment, aid and partnerships on all platforms should take in the post-2015 agenda and their roles in finding multidimensional solutions to poverty and sustainable development.

As the Economic and Social Council concluded its first high-level political forum, it adopted without a vote a shared ministerial declaration with the Council’s high-level segment that called for concerted efforts around the world to meet the Millennium Development Goals and to pave the way to a post-2015 development agenda that included sustainability and the eradication of poverty.

Growth must not come at the expense of the environment, delegates heard today, as the Economic and Social Council continued its high-level segment week during which ministers and other senior Government officials explored critical components to be included in a cohesive, forward-looking post-2015 development agenda, which should, for the first time, put the environment front and centre.

The post-2015 development agenda must address the urgent challenges of poverty and inequality and build on the successes and shortcomings of the Millennium Development Goals, with measurable targets and scaled-up investments in areas such as education, health, gender equality and youth employment, the Economic and Social Council heard today during high-level parallel events.

As the Economic and Social Council wrapped up the first week of its inaugural high-level political forum, speakers tackled questions and strategies of how, on local, national, regional and global platforms, to integrate sustainable development goals into the post-2015 agenda.

A new accounting method aimed at capturing the value of nature could help Governments make smarter decisions on sustainable development, the Economic and Social Council high-level political forum heard today.

Discussion in the Economic and Social Council high-level political forum today centred around the impact of the past three generations on the next two and the need to “be fair” as actions today would influence quality of life tomorrow.

Implementing sustainable development at the national, regional and international levels faced significant challenges, a senior United Nations official said today as the Economic and Social Council convened a high-level political forum to take up the matter.

The Economic and Social Council today elected a representative from the Latin American and Caribbean States as a Vice-President of its Bureau.