The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations adopted by consensus a Ministerial Declaration on 10 July 2007 during its substantive session in Geneva. Participating ministers and heads of delegations addressed concerns expressed by developing countries regarding interaction between climate change response and economic and social development. Recalling the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Declaration called for the widest possible cooperation by all countries to develop an effective and appropriate response to climate change.

The Declaration recognizes "the negative impact of environmental degradation and climate change on sustainable development", particularly in developing countries, least developed countries, small island developing States and the African nations. Council members, the Declaration points out, reaffirm that responses to climate change should be coordinated in "an integrated manner" with social and economic development and should avoid adverse impacts on economic development.

The members of the Council said they looked forward to measures to address climate change within the UNFCCC and the climate change conference to be convened in Bali in December 2007. They also commended UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's high-level event on climate change, which will be held on 24 September 2007 in New York.