DIALOGUE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES OF THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONS WITH THE SECOND COMMITTEE OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
“‘Beyond GDP’: Regional perspectives and initiatives shaping new measures of progress”
80th session of the UN General Assembly
Tuesday, 21 October 2025, from 10:00-12:00hrs EST
The world is grappling with profound and interconnected crises. Global uncertainties and economic fragmentation are putting development progress at risk. Economic growth remains fragile and uneven, with many developing countries facing high debt burdens, shrinking fiscal space, and volatile commodity markets. Social inequalities are widening, leaving millions without adequate social protection, healthcare, or education; and environmental pressures from climate change to biodiversity loss and pollution are threatening the stability of societies and ecosystems alike.
In this context, reliance on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the dominant measure of progress has become increasingly inadequate. As the Secretary-General has noted, overreliance on GDP is a “glaring blind spot” in global policymaking. Since 2020, momentum around the “Beyond GDP” agenda has accelerated through a series of high-profile initiatives such as the OECD Centre on Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Equal Opportunity, the UN’s “Beyond GDP” initiative and its Valuing What Counts report and the adoption of the Pact for the Future at the 2024 Summit of the Future.
The Pact calls for the development and adoption of multidimensional metrics that capture the full spectrum of sustainable development in line with the 2030 Agenda. It commits Member States to support the development of a framework for measuring progress, building on the work of the UN Statistical Commission and the recommendations of the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP appointed by the Secretary-General in May 2025.
Member States in the recently adopted Ministerial Declaration of the high-level segment of the 2025 session of ECOSOC and the high-level political forum on sustainable development also called for the consideration of using measures of progress as a complement to existing policies and practices.
Regional Commissions contribute to reshaping development metrics to capture progress that is more inclusive, sustainable, and grounded in good governance. Through their analytical and capacity development efforts, the Regional Commissions are supporting countries in developing and applying multidimensional indicators. They also facilitate intergovernmental dialogue on complementary measures of progress and link the new metrics to regional development strategies, ensuring that measures inform policymaking, investment priorities, and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda.
Regional Commissions New York Office Director addresses the UN General Assembly Second Committee