Countdown to 2030: ECOSOC sets the stage for 2025 HLPF
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Ongoing conflicts, rising food prices, a worsening climate emergency and deepening inequalities are putting decades of development progress at risk. In this context, the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is stepping up efforts to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as it prepares for the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July.
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Photo: UNDP
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Throughout its 2025 session, ECOSOC has been identifying gaps, reviewing progress and sharing best practices aligned with its overarching theme: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind.”
This has also served to build momentum toward the 2025 HLPF, which will convene under the auspices of ECOSOC from 14 to 23 July, with a ministerial segment from 21 to 24 July. The HLPF will conduct in-depth reviews of SDGs 3 (good health and well-being), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 14 (life below water), and 17 (partnerships for the goals).
Ten years after the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, the forum will assess global progress, share lessons and actions, and receive Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) from 37 countries. It will also connect with key processes in 2025, including Beijing+30, the UN Ocean Conference, the International Conference on Financing for Development, and the World Summit on Social Development.
The HLPF will have before it a report by the Secretary-General on Progress toward the SDGs.
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JUNE
- Management Segment - (10-11 June 2025)
- Joint Meeting of ECOSOC and the Peacebuilding Commission: "Building and sustaining peace in Haiti" - (11 June 2025)
- Meeting on the Transition from Relief to Development: "Transition from relief to development: driving solutions and addressing challenges for people in vulnerable situations in crisis contexts" – (17 June 2025)
- Humanitarian Affairs Segment: "Renewing global solidarity for humanity: saving lives, reducing suffering and mobilizing solutions for humanitarian action" – (18-20 June 2025)
JULY
- High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (14-23 July 2025) and High-level Segment of ECOSOC (21-24 July 2025): "Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science-and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind"
- Management Segment - (29-30 July 2025)
- ECOSOC - First Plenary Meeting, 2026 Organizational Session - (31 July 2025)
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The 56th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission ( 4-7 March), focused on two major topics: The 2025 Systems of National Accounts and the 2030 World Population and Housing Census Programme. It also discussed other important matters including the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, SDG indicators, environment and climate change statistics, environmental-economic accounting, household surveys and economic statistics. |
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The 68th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs ( 10-14 March 2025) deliberated on the issues of global drug policy, international cooperation and the implementation of international drug policy commitments. The active participation of 2,000 stakeholders at CND highlighted the Commission’s vital role as a global platform for addressing the complexities of the world drug problem. The Commission adopted six resolutions reinforcing global efforts to address drug-related challenges. These included the implementation of scientific, evidence-based drug prevention programs to protect children and adolescents; promoting research into effective, evidence-based treatment options for stimulant use disorders; modernizing strategies that help communities transition away from illicit crop cultivation; protecting law enforcement and first responders dismantling illicit synthetic drug labs; and integrating environmental protection into drug policies. An expert panel was also established to improve international drug control. |
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The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (10-21 March 2025) focused on reviewing and appraising the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, along with the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly. It assessed current challenges impacting progress toward gender equality and the empowerment of women, while also examining how these efforts contribute to the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Member States adopted a Political Declaration, committing to respect, protect and promote rights, equality an empowerment for all women and girls.
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The Development Cooperation Forum ( 12-13 March 2025) issued a strong call to realign international development cooperation (IDC) with needs and priorities of developing countries, as widening financing gaps and declining ODA threaten global progress on the SDGs. Participants emphasized the need to reverse the decline in ODA, increase the share of country programmable aid, and prioritize grants and concessional finance to support the poorest and most vulnerable.
The Forum underscored the urgency of restoring the core purpose of development cooperation—poverty eradication and sustainable development—while reinforcing country leadership, ownership, and accountability. It called for more flexible, responsive, and context-specific cooperation modalities—ranging from budget support to blended finance—that shift from crisis response to structural transformation. Greater coherence and complementarity among actors and modalities were highlighted as essential to navigate complex, multidimensional challenges and ensure high-quality and high-impact development cooperation that leaves no one behind. The ECOSOC President's Summary of the meeting is available here.
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The Joint meeting of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council on small arms and light weapons in relation to peace and development (17 March 2025) aimed to raise awareness of the importance of addressing small arms and light weapons in a holistic manner. It provided a platform for coordinated action, fostering collaboration across all relevant stakeholders to strengthen small arms and light weapons (SALW) control and its integration into broader UN frameworks.
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The ECOSOC’s 2025 Special Meeting on International Cooperation in Tax Matters (28 March 2025) convened governments, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders to advance a fairer and more inclusive global tax system. Participants reaffirmed the importance of a UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and emphasized ECOSOC’s role in ensuring that international tax rules support the sustainable development priorities of all countries, particularly developing countries. The meeting also highlighted gender-responsive tax systems to promote equality.
Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, the event showcased how this Committee has become a vital platform for all countries to shape international tax norms. It has delivered practical guidance on key topics such as the taxation of services, transfer pricing, extractives industries taxation, environmental taxation, and prevention and resolution of tax disputes. Its work bridges technical expertise with developing country policy priorities, helping countries strengthen tax systems and raise revenues for sustainable development. Key take-aways from the Special Meeting are captured in the President’s Summary, available here. The meeting provided critical input to the preparatory process for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4).
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The ECOSOC Management Meeting (4 April 2025) conducted elections for regular and outstanding vacancies on its subsidiary and related bodies. The Council elected members for the Statistical Commission, Commission on Population and Development, Commission on the Status of Women, Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Programme Coordinating Board of UNAIDS and the Executive Boards of UNICEF, UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS, UN Women and WFP. The Council also nominated 6 members to the Committee for Programme and Coordination for election by the General Assembly.
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The 24th session of the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (7-11 April 2025) highlighted that advancing the Sustainable Development Goals amid global crises required an urgent shift of governments towards comprehensive systems thinking and action, and support for independent scientific research. The Committee emphasized that the transformation towards sustainable development called for urgent attention to questions of inclusion and equity in governance systems. It highlighted the importance of transparency, and accountability—particularly in the use of artificial intelligence in public administration. The Committee also recommended a comprehensive approach to public financial management reform.
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At the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development (7-11 April 2025), held under the theme “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”, Member States shared best practices, addressed pressing issues and engaged with experts. The session provided an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its commitment to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and to advance efforts towards ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. Key discussions emphasized the importance of health for achieving the SDGs and the commitment to accelerating the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. Participants called for stronger multilateral cooperation to tackle health challenges and discussed the role of data and technology in monitoring progress. Health emergencies amid the climate crisis were also highlighted.
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The 28th session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development (7-11 April 2025) focused on two priority themes: "Diversifying economies in a world of accelerated digitalization" and "Technology foresight and technology assessment for sustainable development." Participants—including government officials, international organizations, civil society, and private sector representatives—discussed the role of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in advancing the 2030 Agenda. They assessed the opportunities and challenges of economic diversification in the digital era, focusing on the role of industrial and innovation policies, and also discussed how countries apply technology foresight and assessment. The Commission also reviewed progress on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) outcomes, particularly the WSIS+20 review.
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The 13th annual ECOSOC Youth Forum (15-17 April 2025) focused on exploring efforts and solutions required to achieve the SDGs that will be under review at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in July. The Forum also featured dedicated sessions on the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development and the Second World Summit for Social Development.
In their interventions, young participants raised their concerns about ongoing conflicts, the digital divide, setbacks in gender equality, and persistent regional disparities. Despite these global challenges, youth remain confident in their ability to drive meaningful change. They see themselves as innovators and changemakers who recognize that their meaningful engagement in policy design, implementation, monitoring, follow-up and review will be crucial for shaping a more inclusive and sustainable present and future for all. The ECOSOC Youth Forum also underscored the power of strengthening global partnerships, which is key to restoring trust in multilateralism, increasing solidarity and shaping a governance framework that is fit for the future. As part of the outcomes of the Youth Forum, please read the Presidential Statement and additional documentation.
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The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues ( 21 April- 2 May 2025) brought together Indigenous Peoples, government representatives, UN agencies, and civil society from around the world. The session focused on the theme: “Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples within United Nations Member States and the United Nations system, including identifying good practices and addressing challenges.”
Over two weeks, the Forum featured high-level dialogues, including one on the rights of indigenous women, as well as discussions on direct financing for indigenous peoples and critical minerals in the context of a just energy transition. The second week included dialogues on human rights and indigenous-specific platforms within UN entities.
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The ECOSOC Special Meeting on Forced Displacement and Refugee Protection (24 April 2025) brought together Member States, observers, UN partners, and representatives from civil society and the private sector to discuss sustainable approaches to provide assistance and protection to displaced persons and host communities, while pursuing durable solutions to the crisis of forced displacement. The meeting highlighted good practices in refugee hosting and inclusion in national systems, and efforts to address the needs of displaced persons and host communities. Following the meeting, the ECOSOC President issued a “Call to Action”, with recommendations for further actions by the international community.
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The ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-Up (28-29 April 2025) attracted ministers and delegates, underscoring the need for a renewed global financing framework that delivers both a large-scale investment push—supported by debt sustainability, domestic resource mobilization, increased concessional finance, and multilateral development bank reform—and a reformed international financial architecture that is more inclusive, responsive, and representative of developing countries.
This year, the Forum also focused on the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), to galvanize commitments and cooperation among all parties for concrete measures and solutions to close the funding gap and achieve the SDGs. The FFD4 will bring together heads of state and government and other leaders and delegates from around the world to agree on solutions to overcome the urgent financing challenges facing the global community.
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The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) (28 April-2 May 2025) highlighted the essential role of standardized geographical names in achieving the SDGs, and it showcased the importance of national good practices. The Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) reaffirmed its collaboration with UNGEGN. Further, the adoption of a Universal Unique Identifier for Cities marked a significant advance in harmonizing geospatial data infrastructure and updates on the World Geographical Names Database highlighted how Member States can provide their geographical names to the United Nations across languages and scripts.Discussions throughout the UNGEGN covered cultural, linguistic, and developmental dimensions of geographical names, and AI applications.
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The 20th session of the UN Forum on Forests (5-9 May 2025) reaffirmed strong commitment to advancing the Global Forest Goals and fostering international cooperation. It focused on implementing the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests (UNSPF) since UNFF19, addressing key areas, including communication and outreach; contributions from partners such as the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), regional organizations, and major groups; monitoring, assessment and reporting (MAR); and means of implementation. Discussions also included a proposal for a Global Forest Financing Facilitation Network (GFFFN) office in China and reviewed the UNFF Trust Fund. Deliberations centered on Global Forest Goals 1, 3, and 5, with interactive panels on the valuation of forest ecosystems, the development of a global hub on forest financing, and the importance of dryland forests. The Forum adopted its report and Chair’s summary, with recommendations for UNFF21 and the High-Level Political Forum in 2025 and 2026.
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The ECOSOC Special Meeting on Artificial Intelligence (6 May 2025) was convened back-to-back with the 10th STI Forum and as part of the STI Action Day. The special meeting brought together Member States, UN system experts, academia, the private sector, youth leaders, innovators, and civil society stakeholders, including the members of the 10-Member Group of the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, to discuss the potential for AI to accelerate SDG implementation while addressing the associated challenges and risks, as well as bridging the digital and AI gaps. It paid special attention to the role of strategic investments, partnerships, and international cooperation in addressing foundational needs and capacity development in the Global South. The meeting included two interactive sessions – a fireside chat on “Emerging Trends of AI Innovations and the SDGs”, and a panel on “Building Foundations for AI in the Global South”. The meeting also showcased the initiatives from the UN system on AI for the SDGs. The President of ECOSOC has issued a summary to capture the key messages and recommended actions from the meeting.
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The 10th Multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation (7-8 May 2025) celebrated a decade of advancing STI for the SDGs while underscoring the urgency of accelerated action as we near 2030. It opened with a ministerial session and then highlighted transformative STI solutions in a series of thematic sessions—from AI-driven healthcare to ocean science—while emphasizing inclusive, ethical approaches to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda. With a focus on SDGs 3, 5, 8, 14, and 17, the STI Forum included calls for equitable AI governance, gender-responsive technologies, advances in marine science and equitable access to ocean technologies, and scaling up research funding, blended finance, and South-South cooperation. The event brought together Member States, scientists, innovators, the private sector and other stakeholders, with outcomes captured in the C-Chair’ Summary. This summary will inform the 2025 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) and the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development.
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The 34th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (19-23 May 2025) brought together participants from Member States, UN entities, inter-governmental organizations, and civil society. The thematic discussion focused on “Addressing new, emerging and evolving forms of crime, including crimes that affect the environment, smuggling of commercial goods and trafficking in cultural property and other crimes targeting cultural property.” The Commission considered resolutions, among others, on topics such as global crime prevention; strengthening international efforts to disrupt the smuggling of migrants; the Kyoto Model strategies; and tackling crimes that affect the environment. Over 127 side events and 25 exhibitions were held, covering key issues in crime prevention and criminal justice.
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The Operational Activities for Development Segment (20-22 May 2025), which serves as the primary accountability and oversight platform for the United Nations development system (UNDS), aimed at accelerating system-wide performance and results in support of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. The theme of the 2025 Segment was "Keeping the promise on sustainable development in times of uncertainty- the UN development system delivering for results".
The Segment featured high-level dialogues with the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, and executive heads of the United Nations development system. The session was informed by the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the QCPR and funding of the UN development system (A/80/74; A/80/74/Add.1), the report of the Deputy Secretary-General as Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) (E/2025/61) and the first report of the Executive Director of the System-wide evaluation office (E/2025/57).
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ECOSOC President's Corner
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"At the ECOSOC Special Meeting on Artificial Intelligence, we explored AI's transformative role in achieving the SDGs, focusing on equitable access, ethical governance, and bridging digital divides. Let's ensure we harness AI for inclusive growth and build a future where AI benefits all, especially in the Global South." - H.E. Mr. Bob Rae, President of ECOSOC
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