Mr. Wu Hongbo Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Secretary-General for the International Conference on Small Island Developing States
Closing remarks at ECOSOC Integration Meeting
13 May 2013, New York
His Excellency, Ambassador Osorio, President of the Economic and Social Council
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have come to the end of a very full and productive day. Thank you for your contributions to this important meeting on integrating the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
As we know, sustainable development depends on the integration of these three dimensions. There is no doubt that this will be a challenging task. However, I am confident that today’s deliberations have shed further light on how to advance this integration and will make a valuable contribution towards this ambitious, and important, task.
Now more than ever, policymakers need science, technology and innovation to achieve development goals. Today, this point was made evident. Strengthening the science-policy interface is essential for sustainable development. Policy-making must be informed by the research of scientists, experts and academia.
Our discussions have shown that:
- High-level political engagement is key to ensuring integration.
- We need to have one sustainable development agenda, with clear goals and policy frameworks for guiding action to achieve these goals, supported by enhanced international cooperation.
- We need to involve stakeholders – governments alone cannot make it happen.
- There is an overwhelming business case for sustainable development. Business should be encouraged not only to engage but to lead.
- Scaling up is necessary, including in post-conflict situations.
- We must invest in sustainable agriculture to promote a win-win outcome by driving inclusive growth and poverty reduction.
We have also heard that:
- The Council’s relationship with the Peacebuilding Commission should be enhanced to ensure that peacebuilding is mainstreamed in UN’s efforts on sustainable development, and
- ECOSOC can serve as a platform for dialogue among Governments, UN system, civil society, academia and the business sector. It can be strengthened to fulfil its central coordinating role among the multi-stakerholders.
Excellencies,
ECOSOC has a vital role to play in advancing the post-2015 development agenda. The subsidiary bodies of ECOSOC and the UN system have an immense wealth of knowledge and expertise. I am confident that these assets will help ECOSOC to move the sustainable development agenda forward in a balanced and integrated manner.
I assure you of my Department’s full support for the work of the Council. I look forward to working closely with Ambassador Néstor Osorio, President of the Economic and Social Council, on these and other pressing priorities on the development agenda.
Thank you.
