20 July 2017: The High-level Segment of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) included the ministerial meeting of the 2017 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), which focused on the theme of ‘Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world,’ as well as an additional day of discussions focused on the themes, ‘Current Trends in Economic and Trade Policy and the Advancement of Sustainable Development’ and ‘Reducing multidimensional poverty in the SDG era.’

The high-level discussions convened from 17-20 July 2017, at UN Headquarters in New York, US.

As in previous years, the 2017 High-level Segment of ECOSOC included the ministerial meeting of the HLPF, which convened under the auspices of ECOSOC from 17-19 July 2017. The entire 2017 meeting of the HLPF took place from 10-19 July 2017. Over the three days of the HLPF High-level General Debate, 91 Ministers, and other high-level representatives of Member States, including one Prime Minister, delivered statements.

Opening the General Debate, ECOSOC President Frederick Shava called for solidarity and cooperation to address key global challenges such as extreme poverty, inequality, conflicts and terrorism, and climate change. Stressing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is “the pathway that will guide humankind to a sustainable way of life,” UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Peter Thomson highlighted the importance of awareness-raising and a focus on implementation on the ground. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the 2030 Agenda could make globalization fair, and outlined key proposals for reform of the UN development system, including: empowerment of resident coordinators; gender mainstreaming in 2030 Agenda implementation; and coherent and accountable funding. Jeffery Sachs, Earth Institute, Columbia University, identified obstacles to progress, including: vested interests, for instance of the oil, coal, and gas lobbies; “belligerent leaders” that perpetuate conflict; and an absence of “big, bold thinking.” Ministerial Chairs of the regional forums on sustainable development also reported on their region’s deliberations on the HLPF theme.

ECOSOC President Shava said that a change of mind set is required to implement the 2030 Agenda.

At the close of the ECOSOC High-Level Segment, on 20 July, ECOSOC President Shava noted that, during the discussion with international finance and trade institutions, speakers highlighted the importance of an international enabling environment for the effectiveness of national poverty eradication strategies. He observed that discussions also highlighted that, at the same time that globalization is creating pressing challenges, the implementation of the 2030 Agenda “requires putting people and sustainability at the center of policy decision making, while requiring also the mobilization of a significant amount of resources.” As a result, Shava said that a change of mind set is required to implement the 2030 Agenda. On the discussion of the multi-dimensional nature of poverty, Shava noted that speakers had emphasized that policies focused solely on the income aspect of poverty cannot eradicate it, and approaches that have identified health, education and living standards as key aspects of national strategies offer lesssons.

A Ministerial Declaration was adopted during the closing session on 19 July, by the HLPF, and again on 20 July, by the ECOSOC High-level Segment. On 19 July, votes on two paragraphs took place: peaceful, just and inclusive societies, with a reference to the removal of obstacles to the full realization of the right of self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation; and means of implementation, including promotion of a universal, rule-based, multilateral trading system. The Declaration was adopted with both paragraphs intact. [Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of HLPF] [SDG Knowledge Hub Policy Brief on Regional Forums on Sustainable Development] [ECOSOC webpage for 20 July High-Level Debates] [UN Press Release] [ECOSOC Press Release][ECOSOC President’s Closing Statement] [Ministerial Declaration]