The UN Charter established Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations. The ECOSOC aims to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It fosters debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century diplomacy and international governance. Given the many different stakeholders and communities who have roles to play, it is a contemporary challenge with regard to its demand on interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and languages, and the personal capacities needed to combine these so as to make diplomatic sense and success.

En los últimos 20 años los desastres han afectado a 4.400 millones de personas, han causado 2 billones de dólares de daños y han matado a 1,3 millones de personas. Los desastres han afectado a las personas que viven en los países en desarrollo y, en particular, a las comunidades más vulnerables de esos países.

Over the past 20 years, disasters have affected billions of people, caused USD$ trillions of damage, and killed millions of people. Disasters have affected people living in developing countries and, in particular, the most vulnerable communities within these countries.

The effects of both the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami remain seared into the collective memory of all nations, particularly those most at risk to tsunamis.

In today's economic and social environment, issues related to social responsibility and sustainability are gaining more importance, especially in the business sector. Business goals are inseparable from the societies and environments within which they operate.

In 2000, the United Nations adopted the Millennium Development Goals that challenged the global community to reduce poverty and increase the health and well-being of all peoples. Particularly, the global sanitation target was to half the proportion of people without access to basic sanitation by the year 2015.

Over the past 20 years, disasters have affected billions of people, caused USD$ trillions of damage, and killed millions of people. Disasters have affected people living in developing countries and, in particular, the most vulnerable communities within these countries.