16 December 2011: In a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly, member States responded to the UN Secretary-General’s report on the UN’s role in global economic governance, with some commenting on specific reforms to improve global governance of sustainable development. States suggested reforms to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and other bodies, and noted the potential of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) to contribute to this process.

Held on 16 December 2011, at UN Headquarters in New York, US, the meeting addressed the GA’s agenda item on ““Strengthening of the United Nations system: Central role of the United Nations system in global governance.” Consideration of the topic began with the Report of the Secretary-General on Global Economic Governance and Development (A/66/506) of 10 October 2011. The report recommends, inter alia: enhancing coordination, cooperation, coherence and effective policymaking across the entire UN system; enhancing the functioning and working methods of relevant organs, especially ECOSOC, and their subsidiary machinery; periodic performance reviews of those bodies; continuing predictable and consistent engagement between the Group of 20 (G20) and the UN to ensure that each complements the objectives and activities of the other in support of development; efforts to further enhance the voice and representation of developing countries in multilateral institutions and other norm- and standard-setting bodies; and better incorporation of regional institutions and arrangements into the framework for global economic governance.

UNGA President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser highlighted the UN’s unique status as a universal and inclusive multilateral forum, but lamented that its does not adequately reflect the emergence of developing and middle-income economies.

Egypt echoed the Secretary-General’s point on the need for reform of ECOSOC. He also said the idea of global governance goes beyond economic governance to include other dimensions, such as peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. He said governance architecture must be made more responsive to current and emerging challenges in various fields, and real participation by developing countries in international decision-making must be enhanced. Brazil said that as the UNCSD approaches, it is important to consider challenges to the UN’s role in the global governance of sustainable development. The Conference, which Brazil will host in 2012, could become the starting point for a substantive process of reforming ECOSOC, with a view to converting it into the central intergovernmental body for sustainable development. [UN Summary of Plenary Proceedings] [Publication: Report of UN Secretary-General: Global Economic Governance and Development]