ECOSOC Marks 80th Anniversary with Call to ‘Deliver Better’ for People and Planet

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) marked its 80th anniversary on Friday with a high-level commemoration at UN Headquarters in New York. Presiding over the event, ECOSOC President Lok Bahadur Thapa of Nepal described the occasion as a “turning point for multilateralism” and a test of the UN system’s ability to “deliver better” for people and the planet.

Held under the theme “ECOSOC80: A Turning Point for Multilateralism,” the gathering brought together UN Member States, senior UN officials, representatives of international financial institutions, civil society leaders, academics, and other stakeholders in the ECOSOC Chamber.

The event opened with a musical performance by the City Symphony Orchestra of New York, followed by a legacy video titled “ECOSOC at 80,” reflecting on the Council’s evolution since its first meeting in 1946. A commemorative stamp collection designed by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra was also unveiled to mark the milestone.

The session, moderated by UN Bureau Chief Sherwin Bryce-Pease, featured remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock. Both emphasized ECOSOC’s central role in coordinating the UN’s development agenda and elevating diverse voices across the multilateral system.

“Development Is the Foundation of Peace”

In his opening statement, President Thapa recalled that ECOSOC held its inaugural meeting exactly 80 years ago, on 23 January 1946, in London. He noted that the UN Charter entrusted the Council with advancing living standards, full employment, social progress, and universal respect for human rights, as well as fostering international cooperation across economic, social, cultural, and health fields—a “bold and ambitious” mandate recognizing that development is the foundation of peace.

Thapa warned that peace cannot endure where poverty, hunger, or inequality persist, stressing that this truth “remains as urgent today as it was in 1945.” For eight decades, he said, ECOSOC has remained the UN’s primary platform for advancing economic, social, and environmental progress by shaping policies, fostering dialogue and partnerships, and promoting innovation toward a fairer, more sustainable future.

Looking ahead, Thapa cautioned that ECOSOC’s mission “has never been more urgent” amid converging global crises—ranging from poverty and inequality to climate shocks and debt distress—that have eroded trust in multilateralism. He called for a stronger Council capable of addressing these overlapping challenges, particularly for least developed, landlocked, and small island states.

“A more effective ECOSOC,” he said, “requires leadership, vision, and firm commitment from Member States.” Thapa welcomed ongoing UN80 initiatives and the General Assembly’s review of ECOSOC as timely opportunities to reaffirm the Council’s central role in sustainable development and to strengthen its convening and coordinating functions.

Guterres: Reform Multilateral Finance and Governance

Secretary-General António Guterres hailed ECOSOC as an “engine of progress” that has shaped the global development agenda over decades—from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Millennium Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He praised ECOSOC’s inclusive character, with nearly 6,500 NGOs accredited to engage in its work, but warned that the world is in a “precarious state,” marked by conflict, inequality, climate disruption, and a faltering global financial system. “These intertwined crises,” he said, “cannot be solved with unilateral approaches or raw power.”

Guterres urged governments to implement reforms agreed under the Pact for the Future, strengthen ECOSOC’s coordinating role, and overhaul the international financial system to better serve developing countries. This includes giving them greater voice in decision-making, increasing multilateral development bank lending, alleviating debt burdens, and helping nations move up global value chains.

He concluded by calling ECOSOC “an indispensable platform for dialogue and action,” urging the international community to bridge development divides, harness technology responsibly, and build a world founded on peace, justice, and shared prosperity.

ECOSOC’s Work “Is Never Finished”

General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, who also serves as Germany’s Foreign Minister, reflected on the parallel anniversaries of the General Assembly and ECOSOC, noting that while “it does not feel like a time for celebrating,” the moment demands recognition of the UN’s enduring mission—upholding peace, human dignity, and human rights.

Baerbock invoked the vision of the UN’s founders, who understood that durable peace requires not only the absence of conflict but also economic and social justice. They established ECOSOC, she said, because they recognized that stable, inclusive societies are essential for lasting peace.

She praised the Council’s work in upholding the UN’s pillars of sustainable development and human rights and pledged stronger collaboration between the General Assembly and ECOSOC, particularly on women’s rights. “If women are not safe, no one is safe,” she said.

Drawing attention to the ECOSOC Chamber’s unfinished ceiling—left exposed by Swedish architect Sven Markelius—Baerbock noted that it serves as a “visual reminder” that the UN’s social and economic work “is never truly finished.” She urged delegates to embrace creativity and innovation, including the responsible use of artificial intelligence, to meet 21st-century challenges. “This is the unfinished work before us,” she said, calling ECOSOC’s mission a shared commitment “to always be better together.”

A high-level interactive discussion on “renewing multilateralism,” moderated by Sherwin Bryce-Pease of the South African Broadcasting Corporation, featured speakers including Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; Maria Dimitriadou of the World Bank; JICA President Akihiko Tanaka; Danny Sriskandarajah of the New Economics Foundation; and Oxford scholar Saru Duckworth. Participants emphasized the need for collective solutions to shared crises and stronger international cooperation.

A Call to “Deliver Better”

In closing, President Thapa thanked delegates for their “invaluable participation and contributions,” noting that over the decades, ECOSOC has guided intergovernmental processes, shaped global norms, and provided a forum to transform ideas into action—from early debates on decolonization to the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He acknowledged that this rich legacy comes at a time of profound global challenges, underscoring that stronger cooperation is essential to tackle transboundary crises and ensure that no one is left behind. With the 2030 Agenda deadline approaching, he urged Member States to treat ECOSOC’s 80th anniversary as a turning point to renew collaboration with “urgency, ambition, and shared responsibility.”

Pledging to make ECOSOC “more responsive, inclusive, and forward-looking,” Thapa reaffirmed his motto of “delivering better.” As the session concluded, his appeal encapsulated the day’s message: that in an era of intersecting crises and eroding trust, ECOSOC’s 80-year legacy must serve as a springboard for renewed multilateralism and tangible progress for people and the planet alike.