2009 COORDINATION SEGMENT

The 2009 coordination segment focused on the follow up to the 2008 Ministerial Declaration on “implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to sustainable development”.

The Segment provided an opportunity to:

• Assess the UN system role and activities in a broad range of policy areas relevant to sustainable development;
• Identify areas where the UN system should promote more comprehensive and effective approaches;
• Recommend ways in which the UN system's support to sustainable development can be strengthened against the backdrop of current challenges.

The Secretary-General's report on “the role of the United Nations system in implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to sustainable development” provided the background analysis for the debate on this issue.

The segment reviewed progress made by the Council in promoting the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the major UN Conferences and Summits, including the WSIS.

The report of the Secretary-General on “The role of the Economic and Social Council in the integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits, in light of relevant General Assembly resolutions”, provided the background analysis for this review.

The work of the coordination segment was complemented by four panel discussions on:

• “The role of the UN system in promoting sustainable development in the context of current challenges”;
• “The impacts of the financial and economic crises on sustainable development, particularly their social implications”;
• “Towards a UN comprehensive response to the challenges of climate change”;
• “Effective sustainable development strategies: country level experience”

Programme
 

STATEMENTS

10 July 2009

The role of the United Nations system in implementing the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2008 of the Economic and Social Council

• Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Somduth Soborun (Mauritius), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council

Moderator:

• Mr. Thomas Stelzer, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs

Panellists:

• Mr. Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 

13 July 2009

The role of the United Nations system in implementing the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2008 of the Economic and Social Council

• Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs

Member States:

• China
• Indonesia
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Malaysia
• Moldova
• Peru
• Sweden on behalf of the European Union and associated countries
• Sudan on behalf of the Group of 77 and China
• Switzerland

Civil society:

• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Presentations:

• Ms. Helen Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme
• Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
   
• Mr. Harsha V. Singh, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization

14 July 2009

The role of the United Nations system in implementing the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2008 of the Economic and Social Council

Introductory statements and conclusion of a general discussion Round table discussion:  “Towards a United Nations comprehensive response to the challenges of climate change”

Moderator:

• Mr. Thomas Stelzer, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs

Panellists:

• H.E. Ms. Gerda Verburg (Netherlands), Chair of the Commission on Sustainable Development
• Dr. Miloslav Hettes (Slovakia), Vice-Chair of the Commission for Social Development
• H.E. Mr. Armen Martirosyan (Armenia), Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women
• H.E. Ms. Maria Nazareth Farani Azevedo (Brazil), Chair of the Governing Body, International Labour Office (ILO)

The role of the United Nations system in implementing the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2008 of the Economic and Social Council (A/64/64-E/2009/10, A/64/87-E/2009/89 and E/2009/56)…(4)

Panel discussion: “Effective sustainable development strategies: country level experience”

Chairperson:

• H.E. Mr. Somduth Soborun (Mauritius), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council

Panellists:

• Mr. Ramadhani M. Khijjah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, United Republic of Tanzania
• H.E. Mr. Dana A. Kartakusuma, Minister’s Special Adviser for Technology and Sustainable Development, Indonesia

DOCUMENTATION

The role of the United Nations system in implementing the ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of the substantive session of 2008 of the Economic and Social Council

• Report of the Secretary-General on the role of the United Nations system in implementing the ministerial declaration of the substantive session of 2008 of the Economic and Social Council (E/2009/56)
• Updated report of the Secretary-General on the role of the Council in the integrated and coordinated implementation of the outcomes of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits, in the light of relevant General Assembly resolutions, including resolution 61/16 (E/2009/89)
• Report of the Secretary-General on the status of the implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society at the regional and international levels (A/64/64-E/2009/10)
   

INFORMAL SUMMARIES

• Summary of General Debate for the Coordination Segment
• Summary of Panel discussion on “The role of the UN system in promoting sustainable development in the context of current challenges, 10 July 2009
• Summary of Panel discussion on “The impact of the financial and economic crisis on sustainable development, particularly their social implications”, 13 July 2009
• Summary of Panel discussion on “Toward a UN comprehensive response to the challenges of climate change, 14 July 2009
• Summary of Panel discussion on “Effective sustainable development strategies: country level experience” 14 July 2009
   

For information on the coordination segment, please contact Ms. Monica Nogara, Economic Affairs Officer, Policy Coordination Branch, Office of ECOSOC Support and Coordination (212) 963-4901, or write to ecosocinfo@un.org.