Organization Economic Cooperation and Development

Highlights for Wednesday, 9 October 2019 Mohammad Hossein Basiri, Iran, with Roberto Sarudianksy, Argentina Delegates to the AGM attended panel sessions throughout the day, where they shared country strategies and examples of good practice on a range of issues, including low-carbon minerals, post-mining transitions, and support for economic and social transition in coal areas. The World Bank presented its Climate-Smart Mining Programme, and the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) introduced the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM), which seeks to increase the benefits to local communities in conflict-affected and high-risk areas. Several speakers noted the pressures on resource-rich countries from the increased global demand for minerals and metals used in electric vehicles. They anticipated that the increased demand for lithium, while providing an opportunity for resource-rich countries, also poses challenges including managing expectations of social benefits, coping with price volatility, and assuaging trade tensions between producer and consumer countries. At lunchtime, the OECD presented its Guiding Principles for Durable Extractive Contracts, and the Geological Survey of Ireland presented its Tellus Programme, an ambitious mapping initiative that provides an environmental baseline of the country. The day’s highlights included small group discussions about steps that governments and companies can take to promote gender equality in the mining sector. Delegates also shared with each other concrete mechanisms for balancing economic, environmental and social interests when planning for mine closure. Towards the close of the day, delegates took part in discussions about the future of mining, and heard a report-back from the Global Tailings Review, which is seeking to develop a global standard for management of mine tailings, to avoid future disasters such as the collapse of the Brumadinho tailings dam in Brazil earlier in the year. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ meeting coverage, has provided daily digital coverage, daily reports, and a summary report from the 2019 AGM. The summary report is available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Government Strategies for Low-Carbon Minerals From L-R: Claudine Sigam, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Roberto Sarudianksy, Argentina; Daniele La Porta, World Bank; and Hilary Morgan, Canada Claudine Sigam, UNCTAD Daniele La Porta, World Bank The Value of Planning: Mine Closure and Post-Mining Transition From L-R: Tom Butler, CEO, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM); Eibhlin Doyle, Ireland; and Jerry Garry, Papua New Guinea Eibhlin Doyle, Ireland Tom Butler, CEO, ICMM Participants posing questions during a Q&A session. Supporting Transition in Coal Regions From L-R: Jhon Olivares, Colombia; Catharina Sikow-Magny, European Commission; Michael Stanley, World Bank; Anna Zvolikevych, DTEK; and Martin Weberink, CEO, German Hard Coal Association Catharina Sikow-Magny, European Commission Anna Zvolikevych, DTEK Transformative Tools for Promoting Gender Equality in Mining Governance Boukje Theeuwes, Solidaridad Network and European Partnership for Responsible Minerals Chair Gillian Martin Mehers, Founding Director, Bright Green Learning, with Sohinee Mazumdar, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Participants collaborating during a group exercise ASM Minerals for Climate Resiliency Roy Nicholson, Jamaica Jeanne Pascale Folifack épse Dongmo, Cameroon Regina Asariotis, UNCTAD Caroline Ngonze, UNDP Raijeli Taga, Fiji Global Tailings Review From L-R: Tom Butler, CEO, ICMM; Bruno Oberle, Chair, Global Tailings Review; Elisa Tonda, UN Environment; Susan Joyce, President, On Common Ground Consultants; and Adam Matthews, Church of England Bruno Oberle, Chair, Global Tailings Review Susan Joyce, President, On Common Ground Consultants European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) From L-R: Jan Pieter Barendse, Netherlands; Boukje Theeuwes, Solidaridad Network and European Partnership for Responsible Minerals Chair; and Louis Maréchal, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Virginie Bahon, Valcambi, with Jhon Olivares, Colombia Lotte Hoex, International Peace Information Service (IPIS) Research Stranded Mineral Assets and the Future of Mining: Evidence and Practice From L-R: Nicolas Maennling, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment; Vincent Kedi, Uganda; Mario Jales, UNCTAD; Vanessa Ushie, African Development Bank; Carolina Sanchez, Argentina; and Richard Morgan, Anglo American Richard Morgan, Anglo American Nicolas Maennling, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment Between Sessions Emmanuel Sherman, Liberia, with Julius Mattai, Sierra Leone Participants during a group exercise Participants conferring before the morning session

    VIPs attending the launch of the Global Hub on Governance for the SDGs   Highlights Angel Gurría, Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), said the Hub will address the governance bottlenecks that make achieving the SDGs challenging.  Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme (UNDP), noted that the Hub will help harness “the extraordinary level of experimentation and innovation” taking place in the internet and governance fields. Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, United Arab Emirates (UAE), mentioned that UAE will host some of the Hub’s activities and will create an accelerator to advance its development and utilization. The event, presented by the governments of UAE, Colombia and Romania, UNDP, and OECD, launched the Global Hub on Governance for the SDGs, a joint OECD-UNDP initiative, which aims to facilitate targeted support to interested countries tackling the specific governance challenges of SDG implementation. The Hub will provide a space for national experts and practitioners to interact and learn from each other, and will align with other existing and planned SDG initiatives to leverage SDGs 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals) as key enablers of the entire 2030 Agenda. Opening the event, Angel Gurría, Secretary General, OECD, said inclusive, strong, and accountable institutions are key to achieving the SDGs, adding that the Hub will address the governance bottlenecks that make achieving the SDGs challenging. He noted that challenges persist everywhere, including in advanced economies. Gurría highlighted that a whole-of-government approach to SDG implementation is paramount, adding that the Hub will strengthen governance mechanisms at all levels by enabling governments to develop tailor-made solutions to their specific needs. Achim Steiner, Administrator, UNDP, noted that good governance systems enable the predictability of rule of law, and thus attract investments and economic growth. He explained that the Hub aims to help governments navigate the complexity that the SDGs bring to development planning. Noting that the internet exacerbates current global challenges such as enabling and expanding human trafficking and hate speech, he underscored that international cooperation, including through the Hub, will be essential to address them. Steiner added that the Hub will help harness “the extraordinary level of experimentation and innovation” taking place in the internet and governance fields. Eugen Teodorovici, Minister of Public Finance, Romania, highlighted the need to involve ministers of finance in discussing governance for the SDGs. He expressed Romania’s readiness to share knowledge and best practices acquired in SDG implementation through the Hub, including on stakeholders and mobilization of local governments. He announced that starting in 2020 Romania will integrate the SDGs in its national budget. Noting the need to establish platforms for meaningful government cooperation in support of the SDGs, Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, United Arab Emirates (UAE), said that UAE will host some of the Hub’s activities and will create an accelerator to advance its development and utilization. Andres Rugeles Pineda, Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN, highlighted the value of learning lessons through peer exchange and tailored support and said Colombia would lead on the monitoring and evidence pillar. During a panel discussion, Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister, Uganda, discussed the preparation of Uganda’s national SDG framework, including through a consultative process and integrating the SDGs into national governmental processes. Evelyn Wever-Croes, Prime Minister, Aruba, noted special governance challenges that small-scale societies face and highlighted national efforts to implement e-governance. Gabriela Agosto, Executive Secretary of the National Council for the Coordination of Social Policies, Argentina, noted challenges with increasing protectionism and difficulties in accessing the global trade system, and said an exchange of ideas and experiences with other countries would be beneficial. Ruairí de Búrca, Director General, Irish Aid, said Ireland has used the climate agenda to drive a whole of government approach, but noted that existing frameworks for development and delivery need to be adjusted to deliver this agenda. André Weidenhaupt, Director General, Department of the Environment, Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, Luxembourg, noted national initiatives that would fit into the Hub: a toolbox for municipalities to help put the 2030 Agenda into practice at the local level; a sustainability check process, through which all legislative proposals will be reviewed with regard to their compatibility with the SDGs; and a toolbox that addresses policy coherence for sustainable development. Eddy Maloka, CEO, African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), said the APRM promotes good governance through experience sharing at the highest level, and added that the Hub will be an important resource for the Mechanism. Ahmed Kamaly, Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Administrative Reform for Planning Affairs, Egypt, reviewed Egypt’s Voluntary National Review and said governance was one of the challenges it identified. In conclusion, Marcos Bonturi, Director, Public Governance, OECD, highlighted that the next steps will include engaging with member countries, UNDP partners, and others who have expressed an interest in the Governance Hub. Haoliang Xu, Director, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP, said that while we know that global challenges include addressing climate change, deforestation, poverty, and inequality, the solutions need to become more sophisticated. He noted that the partnership will seek to help governments address these challenges and achieve the development outcomes that the global community has set for itself. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS) meeting coverage, provided web coverage from the Launch of Global Hub on Governance for the SDGs. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. View of the plenary during the launch of the Hub José Ángel Gurría Treviño, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Achim Steiner, Administrator, UN Development Programme Eugen Orlando Teodorovici, Minister of Public Finance, Romania Andres Rugeles Pineda, Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, UAE Deborah Charles, News Editor, Devex, moderated the event L-R: Evelyna Christina Wever-Croes, Prime Minister of Aruba, and Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister of Uganda CONTACT Ricardo Sánchez Torres, OECD | ricardo.sancheztorres@oecd.org MORE INFORMATION http://www.oecd.org/gov/pcsd/launchoftheglobalhubonthegovernanceforthesdgs.htm  

Highlights for Thursday, 29 August 2019 Representatives from civil society at the end of a peaceful demonstration about nature and people protection versus corporate interest. The first meeting of the Working Group on Post-2020 resumed discussions on Thursday, tackling the future work programme of the Working Group and allocation of tasks to other intersessional bodies and processes. Delegates called for inter alia: a balanced approach in thematic intersessional consultations; ensuring draft text is available ahead of the second meeting of the Working Group; and involvement of the UN Environment Management Group to ensure inputs from all multilateral environmental agreements. During the lunch break, delegates attended an information session focused on strategic planning. Nick Salafsky, Foundations of Success, presented the second of a two-part series on developing a shared strategic planning framework. He led participants in an interactive exercise on developing Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-Oriented, and Time-limited (SMART) targets, using, among other principles, the theory of change.In the afternoon and evening, a discussion group co-chaired by Charlotta Sörqvist (Sweden) and Dilosharvo Dustov (Tajikistan) met to discuss a non-paper prepared by the discussion group co-chairs on a possible structure of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF). Delegates deliberated on the components of, and relationships between, the rationale, the preamble, the 2050 Vision, the 2030 mission, a possible apex goal and milestones, and goals, targets, sub-targets and indicators. Discussions focused on central questions to the structure, including, inter alia: whether the 2030 mission should express an action to be taken or a status of biodiversity to be achieved by 2030; how to express the 2030 mission in a simple manner while ensuring a balanced representation of all three pillars of the Convention; how to formulate SMART goals, indicators and targets; how to ensure that levers of transformative change are specified within the scope of the GBF; and whether an apex goal would benefit or hinder effective implementation of the GBF. With only one day left of the meeting, delegates continued to push towards a tangible outcome. One delegate remarked that we want to leave with clear guidance on the “post-2020 outcome we want” to enable us to return for the second meeting with more substance than a “to do list.” Some delegates were already eager to produce and negotiate text, and urged for ensuring that the second meeting will be furnished with comprehensive preparative documents. Many called for intersessional consultations that go beyond the subsidiary bodies of the convention, the Bureau and the Secretariat. The discussion group, some delegates noted, allowed for unpacking of details of the GBF’s scope and structure. Noting how much time was taken on targets, one delegate remarked that, “the apex target is becoming a distraction,” and that there should be more focus on implementation, which is indeed where we failed with the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from the 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Hlobsile Sikhosana, eSwatini Working Group Co-Chair Basile van Havre, Canada Marina von Weissenberg, Anne Theo Seinen, and Stefan Leiner, EU Takafumi Osawa, Japan Sonia Peña Moreno, and Jane Smart, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) L-R: Amy Fraenkel, Acting Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and Tita Korvenoja and Diane Klaimi, UNEP María Rivera, Ramsar Convention, and Katia Karousakis, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Cicilia Githaiga, Women Ken Paul, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) Abdulghani A.M. Al-Bokwali, Yemen Kevin Lunzalu, Global Youth Biodiversity Network Kenya Amy Fraenkel, Acting CMS Executive Secretary Barbara Lassen, Natural Justice Diagana Mallé, Mauritania Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, CBD Secretariat Malte Timpte, Institute for Biodiversity Network (IBN) Óscar Guevara, WWF Colombia Yemisi Fawibe, Nigeria Lactitia Tshitwamulomoni, South Africa Delegates continued work during the afternoon and evening on the potential elements and scope of the framework. Nick Salafsky, Foundations of Success, during the lunch event on Strategic Planning Frameworks - Part II Participants engage in an activity to develop a SMART target Delegates from the Arab region meet at lunch time L-R: Neville Ash, Director, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC); Aria St. Louis, Grenada; and Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, Ghana, share a laugh at the end of the morning session Evening informal consultations Members of the 30X30 Ocean Alliance meet outside plenary (L-R) Alfred DeGemmis, Wildlife Conservation Society; Justin Kenney, 30X30 Ocean Alliance; Masha Kalinina, Pew Charitable Trusts; Lina Barrera, Conservation International; and Michael Degnan, Campaign for Nature L-R: Brian O’Donnell and Raina Thiele, Campaign for Nature, and Holly Jonas, ICCA Consortium Civil society asked parties “Who do you listen to: Nature & people or corporate interest?”

Highlights for Wednesday, 28 August 2019 The global civic movement AVAAZ delivers Letters for Life on Earth to world leaders who are called upon to champion a new global deal for nature that protects half the earth, and uses the other half sustainably. More than 2.8 million citizens support this petition. Read all 10 books. The first meeting of the Working Group on Post-2020 resumed discussions on the elements of the structure and scope of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF) on Wednesday.Delegates completed discussions on clusters two, three and four on: enabling conditions and means of implementation for the GBF, including resource mobilization, financial mechanisms, capacity-building, technical and scientific cooperation and technology transfer, knowledge management, and communication; planning and accountability modalities, mechanisms and tools, including National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs); national reports, the review process, and voluntary contributions; and cross-cutting approaches and issues, including mainstreaming, synergies, partnerships, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), gender and youth. During lunch delegates attended an information session on scientific evidence for informing the design of the framework. Presentations included: Ana María Hernández, Chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), who outlined key IPBES statistics on the impacts of direct drivers of biodiversity loss, and noted the scientific evidence that will be provided by the upcoming IPBES assessments on transformative change and the nexus of biodiversity, water, food and health. Jian Liu, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), who outlined key findings illustrating biodiversity as a “hidden crisis”. He presented scientific evidence showing that pollution, climate change and biodiversity are the three major interlinked challenges to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), concluding that with the approaching tipping points, transformational change is long overdue. Irene Hoffmann, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, who outlined scientific evidence on multiple interacting drivers of change affecting biodiversity for food and agriculture, and proposed four areas for action, including, among others: addressing knowledge and data gaps; supporting emerging biodiversity-friendly management practices; and improving cross-sectoral collaboration. Andreas Benjamin Schei, Norwegian Environment Agency, summarized the outputs of the ninth Trondheim Conference on Biodiversity. He highlighted participants’ focus on the urgent need for, inter alia: mainstreaming biodiversity; ecosystem restoration; capturing a variety of ways of understanding nature; increased coherence in implementing the Rio Conventions at the national level; and the ability to track post-2020 implementation. In the evening, a discussion group chaired by Charlotta Sörqvist (Sweden) and Dilosharvo Dustov (Tajikistan) met to reach a common understanding on the structure and scope of the outcome-oriented elements: vision, mission, goals and targets. Delegates also attended an information session on Nature-Based Solutions and the Climate Action Summit.With such a short week to complete discussions, day two saw in-depth and focused interventions on the potential elements on structure and scope of the GBF. Delegates started wondering whether the outcome of this first meeting will provide an adequately developed foundation for subsequent meetings, and eventually enable a GBF worthy for adoption at the 2020 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15). Plenary discussions reflected a strong sense that implementation should be a key focus. Indeed, there were many echoing voices emphasizing that if we do not address financial arrangements and enabling conditions, we will be setting ourselves up for failure. It would mean, stressed several delegates, that we have not learned from our mistakes in the context of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Familiar debates emerged regarding the balance between ambition and feasibility. One delegate cautioned against, “biting off more than we can swallow,” while another participant said, “with the approaching global tipping points, transformational change is needed yesterday.” IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from the 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page The dais during the morning session Niklaus Wagner, Switzerland Georgina Catacora-Vargas, Bolivia Aurélie Taylor Patience Dingom and Prudence Tangham Galega, Cameroon Daniel Wai-Poi, New Zealand Daniel Wepukhulu, Kenya Byoung-Yoon Lee and Yuri Kim, Republic of Korea Carlos Manuel Alomía, Ecuador Elizabeth Taylor Jay, Colombia Delegates during Wednesday’s proceedings Maria Luisa Angélica del Río Mispireta, Peru, and Santiago Bertoni, Paraguay Georgina Chandler, Birdlife International María Rivera, Ramsar Convention, and Katia Karousakis, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Brooke Hynes, Australia Linda Krueger, The Nature Conservancy Marta Eugenia Juárez Ruiz, Costa Rica Jeanne N’Tain, Côte d’Ivoire Eder Peña, Venezuela Rita Uwaka, Friends of the Earth Nigeria Iván Vejar Pardo, Chile Resiato Salyan, Women Amielle DeWan (left), National Geographic Fellow, facilitated the lunch session on Recent Assessments IPBES Chair Ana María Hernández Irene Hoffmann, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) L-R: Joji Cariño, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP); Aslak Holmberg, Saami Council; and Lakpa Nuri Sherpa, AIPP Maria (Masha) Kalinina, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and Marina Antonopoulou, WWF Delegates at informal meetings outside the plenary room The South African delegation Representatives from Civil Society during a break L-R: Óscar Soria, Avaaz; Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Mexico; and Laura Rico, Avaaz

Highlights for Friday, 19 July 2019 Flags fly outside UN Headquarters as the High-Level Segment of the ECOSOC 2019 concludes. The High-level Segment of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) met on Friday to discuss visions and projections for the future of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and long-term trends and scenarios.Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), presented mega-trends from the summary of the Sustainable Development Outlook 2019 which will be launched in September 2019, highlighting that: implementation of the SDGs is made more challenging by lower GDP growth, 1% below the growth rate during the period of the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015), and the looming risk of sudden deterioration of financial conditions is a further risk; and global population is projected to reach 8.5 billion in 2030, and while this can present a demographic dividend for developing countries with a young workforce, nearly 1.8 million are projected to face chronic unemployment risk and remain outside the workforce. Cristián Samper, Wildlife Conservation Society, called for 30% of ecosystems to be set aside by 2030 and for restoration of degraded areas. He said 30% of the solutions for climate change can be nature-based, but are overlooked in most national determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.In the panel discussion on visions and projections for the future, panelists highlighted: education and continuous learning as key to unlocking progress in the 2030 Agenda; peace, justice, and strong institutions as a cross-cutting goal; deep decarbonization and a digital revolution among focus areas for pathways to transformational change; healthy competition between countries to accelerate implementation; and the need for the 2019 September Summits to speak to one another.In the session on long-term trends and scenarios, participants drew attention to decision-making and SDG implementation at a time of uncertainty regarding solutions, such as the transformational benefits or potential dangers of new technologies. Panelists discussed the key role of equality in unlocking the potential of the other Goals; the multi-dimensional nature of inequality; the role of diverging demographic trends in driving inequalities; the vicious cycle created by long entrenched inequalities and denial of human rights; the importance of transparency, predictability, and accountability, especially in national budgets; access to technology and capacity to all countries and all citizens; the potential of climate change to exacerbate inequalities, and the need for just transitions; and the need for all voices to be heard while drafting policies. In closing remarks, Liu said progress towards the SDGs is slow; the lack of data hinders progress in reaching those furthest behind; and stakeholder participation is essential not to leave anyone behind. He noted that the high-level Summits in September 2019 will be an opportunity to share these messages.ECOSOC President Inga Rhonda King said the efforts invested in HLPF’s first cycle will lead to the doubling of efforts for SDG implementation, and an integrated approach that includes people in decision-making is key to ensure no one is left behind. She summarized several emerging mega-trends discussed at the ECOSOC High-level Segment, and concluded that the ECOSOC and HLPF are providing a platform to nurture a discussion on these issues.The meeting was gaveled to a close at 5:35 pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from HLPF 2019. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from the meeting, which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Where Are We heading? Visions and Projections for the Future of the SDGs Delegates gather in the ECOSOC Chamber for the High-Level Segment of the ECOSOC. Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs Cristián Samper, President and CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society During his presentation, Cristián Samper, President and CEO, Wildlife Conservation Society, demonstrates that without a healthy biosphere, there will be no foundation for the social and economic development needed on the planet. Li Andersson, Minister of Education, Finland Ohood bint Khalifa Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, UAE Moderator Gerda Verburg, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator, Scaling-Up Nutrition Movement Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Mahmoud Mohieldin, Senior Vice-President, World Bank Group Masamichi Kono, Deputy Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Nebojša Nakićenović, Acting Deputy Director-General, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Marcela Guillibrand De la Jara, Executive Director, Red Volunteers of Chile Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) Lucas Tavares, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Francis Kai Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Sierra Leone Long-Term Trends and Scenarios Claire Melamed, Executive Director, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, moderated the session. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Chair, Committee of the Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary-General, UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Isabelle Pypaert-Perrin, Executive Director, International Movement ATD Fourth World Charles Kenny, Director of Technology and Development, Center for Global Development Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner, Wales Doreen Bogdan Martin, Director, Development Bureau, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Paulette Metang, Executive President, Cameroonian Association for the Care of the Elderly (ACAMAGE) Elliott Harris, Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Development and Chief Economist, UN DESA General Debate The final day of the General Debate took place in the Trusteeship Council Chamber. Bashar Jaafari, Permanent Representative of Syria to the UN Christian Wenaweser, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the UN Dawn Hastings-Williams, Minister of State, Guyana Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN Closing of the High-level Segment of ECOSOC Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC, delivers closing remarks. Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General, Economic and Social Affairs, congratulates Inga Rhonda King, President, ECOSOC, for her work during HLPF 2019. Delegates applaud the closure of the session. Around the Venue Participants gather in the delegates lounge, with the New York City skyline in the background. Gerda Verburg, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator, Scaling-Up Nutrition Movement, speaks with Nebojša Nakićenović, IIASA, and Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP Paul Simon and Leslie Wade, UN DESA Mahmoud Mohieldin, Senior Vice-President, World Bank Group Abdullah Tawlah, Saudi Arabia Tonya Vaturi, UN DESA The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) team covering HLPF 2019: Wanja Nyingi, Kenya; Ana-Maria Lebada, Romania; Anju Sharma, UK; Rishikesh Bhandary, Nepal; and Kiara Worth, South Africa A traditional storyboard gifted to the UN by Palau. Artwork entitled 'Agenda 2030,' gifted to the UN by Mexico. Artwork entitled 'Sleeping Child,' gifted to the UN by Poland.