Economic issues

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.

Concluding its three-day humanitarian affairs segment today, the Economic and Social Council adopted a consensus resolution that not only called upon the United Nations to continue enhancing its existing humanitarian capacities but also included new language addressing the frequently protracted nature of displacement resulting from complex crises and emergencies.

Global humanitarian aid actors should adopt policies of solidarity with strife-torn and disaster-stricken communities rather than charity, and ensure aid workers had the requisite skills to deliver their specific mandates, experts on the matter told the Economic and Social Council this afternoon.

With a burgeoning and increasingly complex caseload taxing the global humanitarian aid system, more funding and better ways to help and protect people in strife-torn countries from the Central African Republic to Syria were more vital than ever, speakers said today as the Economic and Social Council began its three-day humanitarian affairs segment.

The Economic and Social Council wrapped up its two-day coordination and management segment today with the consensus adoption of a series of drafts, including on strengthening global tax cooperation.

The Economic and Social Council adopted eight draft resolutions today, including a text on mainstreaming gender perspective into the work of the United Nations system, as the 54-nation organ resumed its coordination and management segment.

International cooperation in tax matters aimed at enhancing dialogue among national tax authorities was the focus of a special meeting of the Economic and Social Council today.