On 6th July 2021, the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) published a written Statement that had been submitted by GI-ESCR ahead of the 2021 ECOSOC High Level Segment and the 2021 High Level Political Forum. In its statement, GI-ESCR outlines how the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the flaws of privatisation and fossil-fuel energy dependence and calls for a path to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda that promotes quality public services, and to reshape models of energy governance that protect the environment, respect human rights and advance gender equality.

Both the Segment and the Forum are to be held in July and will be guided by the theme: "Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development”.

Organisations in consultative status with ECOSOC were presented with the opportunity to submit a written statement and, in doing so, to contribute their organisation's perspective on issues of critical concern to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

GI-ESCR statement

In its statement, GI-ESCR details the various ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed structural vulnerabilities of privatisation, commercialisation, and the fossil fuel-based energy system. In order to secure a sustainable recovery from the pandemic, we call for a path to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda that promotes quality public services, and that seizes upon the transition to renewable energy as an opportunity to reshape models of energy governance so that they better protect the environment, respect human rights and advance gender equality.

To ensure a sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, a path to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda must address these structural vulnerabilities. It must promote quality, universally accessible, adequately funded and transparent public services that are responsive to the needs of those they serve, including inclusive public education and healthcare. It must also promote renewable energy and recognise that the sustainable energy transition represents a unique opportunity to transform our energy systems so that they are more gender-equal, decentralized, and democratic.

Open here below the UN ECOSOC High-level Segment document featuring GI-ESCR statement

Further information on the 2021 ECOSOC High-Level Segment and 2021 High-level Political Forum may be accessed here.