Informal Consultations on the Beyond GDP Process

Good afternoon, everyone. I call to order this first informal consultations on Beyond GDP. Ambassador Hector Gomez Hernandez and I warmly welcome you to this meeting. We are honored to have been appointed by the President of the General Assembly, Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock, to serve as co-facilitators of this intergovernmental process in line with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 79/1 of 22 September 2024, entitled the Pact for the Future, to develop measures of progress on sustainable development that complement or go beyond gross domestic product, referred to as beyond GDP. We are grateful for the trust the President of the General Assembly has placed in us to co-facilitate this process, and we look forward to working closely with all of you. This afternoon, in addition to the start of this intergovernmental process, we will mark the launch of the final report of the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP. In this regard, we welcome the presence of the President of the General Assembly, Ms. Annalena Baerbock, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and the two co-chairs of the High-Level Expert Group, Mr. Kaushik Basu and Ms. Nora Lustig. Colleagues, from the inception of the use of GDP as a measure of economic health, there has been recognition of its limitations. Despite these concerns, for decades, economic growth measured by GDP has been the fulcrum used to shape policy. This limited approach, where economic prosperity is forced into the box of growth above all else, ignores other important factors, such as the finite natural resources of our planet and increasing inequality both within and among states. As Secretary General has previously stated, and I quote, "Let us not forget that when we destroy a forest, we are creating GDP. When we overfish, we are creating GDP." End of quote. This intergovernmental process, which we are beginning today, is a further step that the UN, and by extension, the international community, is taking in moving from rhetoric to action by addressing the long-standing recognition that GDP is important, but not enough. The Pact for the Future provided the instructions, and with the publication of the report of the High-Level Expert Group, we have completed one step. As co-facilitators, we are committed to completing our mandate in a manner that is transparent and inclusive, one that will represent a tangible step forward on the adoption of country-owned, universally applicable indicators of sustainable development that complement and/or go beyond GDP. The report of the HLEG, in addition to the rich, well-researched data that it has provided, recommends a set of actions for consideration by the spectrum of stakeholders. As your co-facilitators, We look forward to listening to all stakeholders and working with Member States in the coming months to move the process forward together. I now give the floor to my fellow co-facilitator, Ambassador Gomez Hernandez, to provide some additional remarks. Ambassador.

Very good afternoon. I wish to thank Ambassador Rodriguez-Becot for her opening remarks. I wish to reiterate to the President of the General Assembly the thanks for the trust that she's placed in both of us in terms of co-facilitating this very important process. We are meeting today at a juncture at which the international community has recognized that we cannot continue to adopt hugely significant decisions basing ourselves entirely and solely on GDP if we really wish to address the challenges of our time. Many people, including my own country, have for some time now been defending a multidimensional understanding of progress and sustainable development. They wish this to be designed as a non-linear process and one which goes beyond aggregated macroeconomic indicators. The commitment entered into in Seville had at its heart what really matters, that is the well-being of people, reducing inequalities, resilience to crises and sustainability on our planet. Today, we take one more step forward. We move from ideas to action. There are many difficulties, fragmentations, a sense that there are too many indicators or too many competing approaches. But the challenges that we have before us are not technical in nature. After decades, it has become clear that there's a need to move beyond GDP. As such, we have to translate technical knowledge into a genuine policy priority and into systemic change. Consequently, we trust that we will enjoy your active participation and will come out with an unequivocal political commitment in order to achieve results and ensure that people's well-being can be protected as well as that of the planet, we are ready and willing to listen to you throughout this entire process over the coming months. Thanks once again to you all. Now, I invite the President of the General Assembly, Her Excellency Annalena Baerbock, to take the floor.

Muchas gracias, Mr. Secretary-General, Madam Deputy Secretary-General, dear co-facilitators, dear co-chairs, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Since 1934, gross domestic product, GDP, has been the world's defining measure of economy activity. It was born in a moment of crisis during the Great Depression when policymakers urgently needed a way to understand economic collapse. It served that purpose well. But more than 90 years later, our world has changed profoundly, yet our primary measure of progress has not. And we should know better because we have recognized over decades that development is not only economic. It is also social and environmental. It is about resilience, equity, and human well-being. This broader vision is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet the metric, as has been said, most often guides policy decisions, still captures only a fraction of that reality, and I think the co-facilitator, Carolyn Rodriguez-Rockett, for quoting the… Secretary General, I had the similar quote here that we so far still benefit destruction, be it by the forest that the GDP grows, but even worse by accident. If many people in your country have accidents on the road or a chemical disaster, also this would at that moment increase your GDP because you have to do something to count it. Same if a country goes to war, in that moment you increase your productivity of military action. So clearly an updated measure of economic activity is overdue. And as the co-facilitators have underlined, I'm very thankful that member states have recognized this imperative. And both the 2030 agenda and the Pact for the Future reflect this, the latter mandating the creation of the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP. The final report now presented of the expert group proposes a dashboard of 31 indicators that complement the GDP and build on existing frameworks. In fact, close to half of the indicators are drawn directly from the sustainable development goals. These indicators are designed to provide a more complete and policy-relevant picture of progress across economic, social, and environmental dimensions, including the capacities of society to manage risk like disasters and respond to shocks like crises. The report's recommendations includes measures to encourage governments to integrate the proposed dashboard of indicators into national policies and practices. The objective of this report is not to reject GDP, nor to dismiss the importance of economic growth. Rather, this report addresses the world's over-reliance on GDP as a dominant measure of success, while taking a critical step toward aligning how we measure progress with how we define it. While the presentation of this report fulfills the first step mandated in Action 53 of the Pact for the Future, our work does not stop here. We now enter the next phase of this work, an intergovernmental process conducted by Member States. This step makes a decisive shift from technical analysis to political decision-making and therefore requires the active engagement of Member States. In this regard, I would like to thank the co-facilitators, Ambassador Caroline Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Ambassador Hector Gomez Hernandez of Spain, for taking on this ambitious and important task. It is now up to you, the Member States, to determine how these recommendations will be translated into tangible policies that shape how progress is defined and measured. This will not be achieved in one meeting or one report or one negotiation cycle. Moving beyond an over-reliance on GDP is a long-term process. It will require sustained effort across governments, national statistical offices, the international community, civil society, academia and the media. And it will require us to build trust around the new measures that are credible, comparable, and useful for decision-making. Throughout this process, the General Assembly will provide the inclusive, universal platform needed to build a shared political vision, supported by the UN system at all levels. Excellencies, more than 90 years after the creation of the GDP, we have before us an opportunity to align our economic indicators with our collective vision of sustainable development, one that places people, planet, and prosperity for all at its core. Today's launch of the intergovernmental process, together with the presentation of the final report, marks the first concrete step in that direction, and I personally think this is really a milestone. I encourage all Member States to engage actively and constructively in the consultations ahead, so that this work delivers practical and actionable outcomes that support more inclusive, resilient and sustainable development pathways, and also give a push to deliver on the SDGs by 2030. I thank you.

I thank the President of the General Assembly. Now I invite the Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Antonio Guterres, to take the floor.

Madam President of the General Assembly, distinguished co-facilitators, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. The report we launch here today is a landmark step in correcting a longstanding blind spot in measuring progress. the over-reliance on gross domestic product. The report and its detailed recommendations are the result of focused work by a high-level expert group. I convened the group in response to a clear call by Member States in the Pact for the Future to develop measures of progress that complement or go beyond GDP. Over the last year, this multidisciplinary group of academics and policy experts lent their insights and expertise and consulted with stakeholders around the world. I thank them for their valuable work. Excellencies, GDP is the most widely used metric of economic progress and well-being. It will continue to be an important measurement, but it cannot be the only one. By design, gross domestic product provides a clear and concise picture of a country's market-based output. It is purposefully narrow in scope. But it's now being used in ways its architects never intended. We use GDP to judge the long-term success of countries. Yet we see a huge gap between what GDP measures and what people value. GDP overlooks human activities that sustain life and contribute to well-being, while failing to fully account for those that harm people and deplete our planet. In my time as Secretary-General, the size of the global economy has risen over 50 percent, adjusting for inflation. But our world has not seen commensurate improvements in many of the areas that benefit humanity. else biodiversity, job creation, human rights, equality, and even peace, with conflicts now at levels not seen since World War II. Meanwhile, deforestation, overfishing, and the burning of fossil fuels are all counted in GDP, as Madam President of the General Assembly and Madam Co-facilitator have reminded us. We also treat GDP growth rates as a real-time barometer of a society's health. But GDP does nothing to capture or predict social unease, frustration and mistrust in institutions, and whether prosperity is being shared. In our world of deep inequality, GDP is indifferent to whether income goes to billionaires or to the poor, or if that income goes to addressing hunger, health, or deprivation. And GDP has become our go-to tool for international policy rules, but it does not effectively distinguish the vulnerabilities, challenges, or potential faced by different countries. We cannot assume that simply because they have more income today, countries have no need of international assistance, as demonstrated by the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. Nor can we assume that the sustainability of a country's debts can be assessed solely on the basis of what that country earns, ignoring the value of its assets and how its borrowing is being used. Excellencies, these disconnects are especially relevant today. With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, humanity is on the cusp of a technological revolution compared to the Industrial Revolution. AI holds the potential to dramatically boost global growth and productivity. But it can equally eliminate millions of jobs and unleash the creation and use of increasingly sophisticated deadly weapons. Surely, we should not judge the merit of this technology by its effect on GDP alone. Excellencies. Our world needs a more sophisticated, more diverse, and more humane accounting system, one that consciously aligns metrics with our actual goals, not proxy measures that obscure or hide the challenges our world is facing. This report builds on decades of pioneering research, country-led initiatives, and data development. The Beyond GDP dashboard we are proposing is built on the vision of sustainable development and its 17 goals. While the goals provide the full articulation of our aspirations for people and planet, the Beyond GDP Dashboard provides a practical compass that can be used to guide everyday decisions. The Dashboard comprises a set of specific indicators focused on equitable and sustainable well-being in four key areas. First, indicators around the well-being of our people and planet. work, health, education, and security, the quality of civic institutions and infrastructure, and the environmental conditions which sustain the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Second, indicators around equity and inclusion. We can no longer accept inequality, poverty, and disparities across population groups and entire regions as facts of life. Equality is the foundation of social cohesion and a pillar of peace. Third, indicators around sustainability and resilience. Focusing solely on the income we generate today is insufficient. We must find also ways to preserve and build on countries' existing assets and advantages, including nature and knowledge that can power progress into the future while addressing existential challenges like climate change. and force indicates rooted in the foundational principles of peace, human rights, and respect for the planet upon which all progress depends. These principles are directly derived from the UN Charter. The arrival of the Beyond GDP agenda at the UN responds to the clear call by member states to ensure this issue is guided by UN ideals. And it recognizes that in our deeply connected world, What happens in one country can influence and affect what happens in another. This global issue demands the unique global platform the UN provides. Excellencies, the next step belongs to Member States. The intergovernmental process starts now. Your role is to consider the recommendations in this report and agree on a plan to establish, refine and institutionalize the Dashboard. governments, civil society, media, statisticians, businesses, and international organizations need to work as one to bring the indicators to life in your countries. And international financial institutions must take these indicators into account in their decision-making processes. You can count on the UN's support every step of the way. Excellencies, today's report is a clear reminder: GDP is not enough. Growth at any cost leaves us all poorer, not richer. The report is also a call to action. Let's count what matters. Let's embrace these new metrics that complement GDP and reveal the full picture of the challenges and opportunities our world faces at this extraordinary moment in history. Thank you.

I wish to thank the Secretary-General, and I now give the floor to my colleague, co-facilitator of the process, Ambassador Rodrigo Birkerts.

I now invite the co-chair of the High-Level Expert Group, Mr. Basu, to present the final report. Mr. Basu, you have the floor. The secretariat is checking to see where the difficulty is.

Can you hear me now?

Yes, Mr. Basu, we can. Go right ahead.

Okay. After a year of intensive deliberation and extensive consultation, including with many of you, our expert group consisting of 14 members from different regions and professions has the honor to present our final report to you. In his speech, the Secretary-General made it amply clear why moving beyond GDP is particularly urgent in today's world. We were appointed last year to help address this issue. GDP is an important metric, but to treat it as the sole measure of a nation's wellbeing is to do more harm than good. We have seen a growing dissonance between GDP and how people feel about the economy, the political and social environment in which they live, and their wellbeing. In our report, we take on this challenge and set out a global blueprint for moving beyond GDP. We propose a new compass that sets policy and decision making on a broader footing and tries to alter some of the games that nations are currently locked into playing. An important part of our proposal is a dashboard that puts people and planet at the center of measuring progress. Its overarching objective is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable well-being. We also outline a data and statistical agenda and recommend how this dashboard can be implemented to have an impact on policy making and ultimately the lives of ordinary people. Our aim has been to develop a metrics that capture the most important elements of human and planetary well-being, thereby representing the middle ground between the expansive measurement of the SDGs and the reductionist perspective offered by GDP. Our dashboard of indicators has four main elements building on a conceptual framework, which we describe in the report in detail. In the red box at the bottom are three foundational principles which represent critical conditions on which progress is built. These are peace, human rights, and respect for the planet. We propose a few indicators to capture these, including measures of conflict and planetary boundaries. In the yellow box, To the left, we set out various domains that concern current well-being. They include material conditions and work, health, education, security, subjective well-being, social cohesion, quality of institutions, and environmental quality. Our indicators capture both individual and collective aspects of well-being. In the purple box in the middle, we highlight the importance of equity and inclusion. Excessive inequality can rob ordinary people of their voice and damage democracy. Hence, our indicators include ones that capture inequality, poverty, gender imbalance, and regional disparities. Finally, In the green box to the right, we set out indicators that emphasize that well-being and progress needs to be sustainable. For this, the proposal is to capture different types of capital that are the basis of future prosperity. Produced, human, social, natural, and institutional capital. With that, let me hand over to my co-chair, Nora Lustig. Thank you very much.

I thank Mr. Basu, and I now invite the co-chair, Ms. Lustig, to continue the presentation of the final report. Ms. Lustig, you have the floor.

Thank you. The indicators for the dashboard just presented by my co-chair were selected based on criteria that included policy relevance, establish statistical methodologies and data availability. In our consultations, many of you emphasized the need for avoiding parallel efforts to the SDG framework. We listened. About 50% of the indicators, as we have said earlier, in the dashboard are drawn from the SDG framework. This has one great advantage, it allows for easier uptake and lowers the barriers for adoption. For other indicators, the report recognizes when coverage might be challenging. The report also acknowledges when methodologies are not yet fully agreed. This includes, for example, and prominently, environmental sustainability measures. Dashboards are essential because they show where societies are progressing and where they're failing behind across multiple dimensions of wellbeing. But when indicators move in different directions or at different speeds, dashboards alone cannot tell us whether overall well-being is improving or worsening. We therefore also recommend advancing work on a headline multidimensional indicator of well-being. Down the road, a single companion number to GDP would provide a clear and powerful summary of overall societal progress, helping shift public debate and policy making beyond economic output alone. What will it take to make the Beyond GDP agenda a reality? Going beyond GDP takes time, as did the creation of GDP itself. This report is one step in a process. With the dashboard, countries have a blueprint for what they can implement immediately to initiate change in how they measure well-being and monitor progress. Over time, with more regular reporting, real-time data collection, and strengthened government capacity, these measures can be more directly integrated into decision-making and budgeting. Looking even further ahead, we set out a broader roadmap for the full implementation of the agenda, in which countries can build on our proposals and tailor them to their context. To help take this agenda forward in our report, we make recommendations for a variety of stakeholders, governments, the multilateral system, the statistical community, and civil society, including scholars, the business community, and the media. Our proposals need to be tested, iterated, and scaled, and member states, I will emphasize this, member states will be key actors in this process. Many of the countries represented here have already taken steps to adopt beyond GDP approaches, and we hope others will now be ready to follow suit. In closing, we hope all member states will engage with our proposals with the ambition this moment demands. At its core, the agenda is grounded in the foundational principles of peace and security, human rights, and the respect for a livable planet. It also places strong emphasis on inclusion and equity, as well as sustainability and resilience. Because progress that excludes people or compromises the future cannot truly be called progress. The recommendations in this report will require time, resources, and the sustained political commitment of member states. Remember, what we choose to measure shapes what we choose to do. We commend this report to your consideration, and as members of the HLEG, we stand ready to help move this agenda forward in whatever ways Member States may find useful. Again, many thanks to all for this opportunity. Muchas gracias.

I thank Ms. Lustig and Mr. Basu for their presentation of the final report, and indeed for their work and the rest of the High-Level Expert Group. The Secretary-General will have to leave at this time due to other pressing commitments, and I thank him for joining us this afternoon. The President of the General Assembly will also have to leave us, and we thank her too for being with us. I now hand over to Ambassador Hector to continue.

Thank you very much indeed. I now open the floor to member states so that they can deliver their comments or voice their opinions. Given that there's no established list of speakers, delegations that wish to take the floor are asked to press the microphone button that they have before them. Delegations that take the floor on behalf of groups are invited to come to the speakers list table so that they can be given priority. I kindly remind delegations that statements should not exceed three minutes in terms of Member States speaking in their individual capacity, and five minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of States. I first give the floor to Uruguay. speaking on behalf of G77, to be followed by Mauritius, representing the African Group.

Distinguished co-facilitators, dear colleagues, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. Firstly, the group wishes to congratulate Guyana and Spain on their appointment as co-facilitators of this important process. The Group would like to express in this first consultation its appreciation for the work done on the Beyond GDP process to develop a framework on measures and progress on sustainable development to complement and go beyond gross domestic product. These measurements should reflect progress on the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Regarding the intergovernmental process, the group takes note of the presentation of the final report by the dependent high-level expert group and looks forward to reviewing its recommendations for country-owned and universally applicable indicators of sustainable development that complement and go beyond gross domestic product. For the G77 and China, the shift toward beyond GDP metrics is a necessity to accurately reflect the complex development realities facing developing countries. Reliance on income-based indicators alone can sometimes obscure deep-seated poverty and development needs. At the same time, the group underscores this process must remain a United Nations-led intergovernmental process. Following the work of the expert group, the transition to a member state-driven political process is vital to achieving a shared understanding of progress. We recognize that this may require increased investment in national statistical systems, in data collection, and in capacity building for national statistical agencies. In conclusion, The Group of 77 and China looks forward to reviewing the final report of the expert group at this stage. The group reaffirms its commitment to exploring metrics for measuring progress in sustainable development that complement or go beyond GDP to help us all advance the three dimensions of sustainable development. I thank you.

I thank you, Mr.

Gueye, for that statement. I give the floor to Mauritius, speaking on behalf of the African Group, to be followed by the Philippines.

Thank you. Madam Deputy Secretary-General, distinguished co-facilitators, distinguished colleagues, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the African Group. At the outset, the Group congratulates Guyana and Spain on their appointment as co-facilitators of this important intergovernmental process. The African Group wishes to reaffirm its strong commitment to the implementation of the Pact for the Future, particularly the efforts aimed at identifying measures of progress on sustainable development that complement or go beyond gross domestic product. For the African Group, the discussion on beyond GDP is important and long overdue. Traditional income-based indicators alone do not adequately capture the development realities, structural constraints, and vulnerabilities faced by many African countries, including least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing states, and middle-income countries. In many instances, such indicators fail to reflect persistent inequalities, exposure to external shocks, climate vulnerability, informality, food insecurity, and the broader developmental challenges that continue to affect our countries. In this regard, the Group welcomes the presentation of the final report of the Independent High-Level Expert Group and looks forward to engaging constructively on its recommendations. We believe that this process should continue towards the development of country-owned, universally applicable, and development-oriented indicators capable of better reflecting the multidimensional nature of sustainable development and the realities on the ground. In this regard, the African Group would appreciate further clarity from the co-facilitators regarding the roadmap and timeline for this process, including the envisaged phases of engagement with Member States to allow groups and delegations to adequately organize themselves, undertake the necessary consultations, and engage meaningfully throughout the process. The Group also wishes to highlight that the effective implementation of any beyond-GDP framework will require enhanced support for developing countries, particularly in national statistical capacities, data collection systems, and technical cooperation. Without adequate means of implementation, many developing countries may face significant challenges in operationalizing these new approaches. In conclusion, the African Group reiterates its readiness to engage constructively throughout this process. We remain committed to advancing a more comprehensive and equitable understanding of sustainable development, one that better reflects the realities, aspirations and priorities of all developing countries and contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mauritius speaking on behalf of the African group. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Philippines speaking on behalf of the like-minded group of middle-income countries. You have the floor.

Thank you, co-facilitators, Deputy Secretary-General, Excellencies. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the like-minded group for middle-income countries. composed of Armenia, Belarus, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, and Uruguay. We thank the COPE facilitators for convening this informal consultation. We also express appreciation to the Secretary General's high level expert group for its important work, especially in advancing discussions relevant to middle income countries, as called for in the Pact for the Future. We look forward to examining the final report in more detail. The LMG mix have consistently supported efforts to move beyond GDP as a central metric of development. We underscore that this initiative should contribute to a broader shift towards more inclusive and responsive development approaches, including and informing access to development finance, particularly concessional finance and technical cooperation. We note the Secretary-General has highlighted the need for the Beyond GDP agenda to better address the challenges faced by middle-income countries, including the risk of falling into the middle-income trap. In this regard, a more comprehensive and nuanced approach to measuring development is essential to better reflect national realities. Against this backdrop, the LMG MIX wish to highlight the following: One, through the intergovernmental process, we look forward to seeing the link between the new dashboard and the need to address the specific challenges of MIX. A true "compass of progress" should create impact on most of the world's poor that reside in the MIX. The Group underscores that the value of this initiative lies not only in improved data, but in its ability to inform access to financing and support. In this regard, we see the importance of ensuring coherence and interoperability with the frameworks and policies of international financial institutions, including IMF, the World Bank, and other multilateral development banks. We emphasize the need to avoid duplication with existing indicators and indices, including those on multidimensional poverty, inequality, and vulnerability. New metrics should add clear analytical value within the broader SDG data ecosystem. While we take note of the proposed adjusted GDP components, We would like to see their distinct analytical value and place amidst the current SDG monitoring tools and SDG focused data ecosystem. Moving forward with the intergovernmental process, the role of the Statistical Commission will be critical in ensuring that any new metric can be operationalized at the national level. This includes strengthening national data systems and ensuring interoperability across the data frameworks. Finally, we underscore the importance of an inclusive, transparent, and member state-driven intergovernmental process, including through open and text-based negotiations under the leadership of the co-facilitators. In closing, the LMG mix reaffirmed their commitment to engaging constructively in advancing the beyond GDP agenda with a view to ensuring that it responds effectively to the needs and realities of the middle income countries.

Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Philippines speaking on behalf of the like-minded group of middle-income countries and now I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Palau speaking on behalf of AOSIS to be followed by the European Union

Madam Deputy Secretary General, distinguished co-facilitators, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the 39 members of the Alliance of Small Island States. At the outset, AOSIS congratulates both of you, dear Carolyn and Hector, on your appointment as co-facilitators of this important intergovernmental process, and we look forward to working with you and your respective teams throughout the negotiations. Our group also wishes to extend our appreciation to the UN Secretary-General for his leadership, and also to the co-chairs of the High-Level Expert Group for their presentation of the group's final report. And we look forward to reviewing in detail the findings and recommendations of the final report. Distinguished co-facilitators, this process comes at a critical juncture as we collectively seek to redefine how progress is measured in a world facing compounding crises. For decades, AOSIS has maintained that income measures have never captured the full measure of the SIDS reality. As such, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, ABAS, makes clear that achieving resilient prosperity requires redefining progress, recognizing that the pathway to development is not linear for everyone. In this way, we are confronted by a simple truth. What we measure continues to shape what we prioritize and ultimately what we deliver. In other words, if we're serious about achieving sustainable development for all, then we must be equally serious in how we measure it more holistically. And in this regard, we wish to highlight three key considerations for this particular process. First, AOSIS wishes to underscore that as a central principle, the intergovernmental process must not duplicate, relitigate, or rewrite existing work, particularly the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. The MVI represents a significant, technically sound, member state driven tool. It provides an intergovernmentally established framework for capturing vulnerability and resilience, and is already gaining traction in informing international discussions on development cooperation. As such, reopening or replicating this work under a different label would risk fragmentation and dilute political momentum. Instead, we should use this intergovernmental process to complement what already exists. Therefore, and secondly, the intergovernmental process on beyond GDP ought to focus on coherence and complementarity by defining a clear delineation of scope. This means reaching agreement on a concise set of policy relevant indicators that adds value by capturing dimensions not already addressed or covered elsewhere. By doing so, our task in this process is to situate the BeyondGDP dashboard of indicators within the broader ecosystem of development indicators that exist. This will also ensure coherence across existing frameworks, including the SDG indicator framework, and reinforce, rather than compete with, tools like the MVI or the Human Development Index, for example. Lastly, and perhaps critical to this entire exercise, is feasibility and usability. For SIDS, the proliferation of indicators carries real capacity costs and constraints. Therefore, the process should also include concrete proposals for capacity building, financing, and support for data so that all interested countries can voluntarily apply these indicators without additional reporting burdens. With this in mind, distinguished co-facilitators, in terms of next steps, as delegations review the final report, we would encourage further briefings and informal dialogues with the expert group and its co-chairs so that any questions and further clarifications can be fully ventilated. In our view, this will significantly assist delegations in understanding the contents of the final report and will enable us to move forward with collective clarity and purpose. In closing, AOSIS looks forward to engaging in this process constructively, and you can count on our support and cooperation. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Palau, speaking on behalf of AOSIS. I now give the floor to the European Union to be followed by New Zealand speaking on behalf of Cairns.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think someone's phone was making some nice music there. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor of delivering the statement on behalf of the EU and its member states. We're very pleased to be here today in line with the process we mandated and strongly supported in the Pact for the Future and to give follow-up on that commitment. Going beyond GDP is an important step towards a more comprehensive understanding of economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. Let me start by thanking the members of the High-Level Expert Group, as well as its executive secretariat, for the hard work and the concise, readable, and very well-structured report. Let me also congratulate you. Your Excellency, Ambassador Rodriguez-Berget of Guyana and His Excellency Gomez Hernandez of Spain, on your appointment as co-facilitators to steer the way ahead. You will have our full support. While we have only received the report less than 48 hours ago, the first reaction is that it's extremely rich and interesting. It's ambitious and bold and lays out very concrete steps to move this agenda forward. As a first observation, we note that the report makes a strong effort to align the principles and indicators with the 2030 agenda and the SDGs. It will be an excellent stepping stone for us to start the next leg of work. Regarding the content and vision of the report, it is too early to offer fully formed views. But in order to move the process forward in an ambitious, inclusive and structured, step-by-step way, the EU would like to offer the following remarks and suggestions. First, the document is very dense and ambitious, so governments, international organizations and stakeholders will need time to digest and formulate their views and reactions. There may be further questions and clarifications needed. We thus suggest that after a period to examine it in more detail, an opportunity to engage formally with the expert group would be very helpful as a concrete first step in the process. Second, scoping and formulating the way forward should involve inputs from member states, including notably their statistical offices, and also intergovernmental organizations, civil society, and youth representatives. Some sort of structured consultation on the content of the report and potential goals of an intergovernmental process to get views and feedback from all stakeholders would be a very helpful next step. Third, after consideration of the content of the reports, including the dashboard, the vision, and recommendations, there should be a separate reflection on the scope and objectives of an intergovernmental process at the UN. We must articulate as the UN membership what we aim to do, but we must also be very clear about what the UN can and cannot do. The report lays out numerous new processes and work streams for seeing at national and international level, and we need to consider capacity issues as well as be mindful of the context of limited resources and the UN80 process. Finally, we first and foremost ask the co-facilitators to formulate and consult the membership on a detailed roadmap, including all the steps ahead and their sequence, with a reasonable, not rushed, timeline that allows for a well-prepared dialogue and reflection before engaging in a full-blown negotiated intergovernmental process, the objectives and scope of which should be fully fleshed out. I would like to close by reiterating the EU's strong support to going beyond GDP, to the co-facilitators in this important work and to taking the next steps in delivering on this commitment.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of the European Union. And the last statement now from a group. I now give the floor to New Zealand, speaking on behalf of Cairns.

Thank you, co-facilitators. I have the honor to speak on behalf of Canada, Australia, and my own country, New Zealand. First, let me convey our thanks to the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP. Your comprehensive report provides much food for thought as we move into the intergovernmental process. CANS is strongly supportive of a multidimensional approach to measuring sustainable development. Indeed, in our respective countries, we each use analytical frameworks that track outcomes across health, income, housing, environmental, and social connection, recognizing that income measures alone give an incomplete picture. And in turn, we factor this into the long-term evidence-based advice provided to our policymakers. CANS therefore recognizes that the Beyond GDP concept is valuable. We see it as a useful analytical tool to measure sustainable development progress and to inform national policies, strategies, and public resource allocation decisions at a national level. As others have noted, however, we are conscious that there are a number of other globally endorsed frameworks, including the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index and UNDP's Human Development Index, that are designed in part to help inform financing allocation decisions at the international level. As such, we do not view the primary focus of the proposed beyond GDP conceptual framework and dashboard as informing concessional financing decisions, given the other tools we already have to consider factors beyond GDP. As we embark upon a new intergovernmental process, CANS has three key suggestions for the co-chairs to consider. Firstly, we do not think this beyond GDP intergovernmental process should duplicate the work already done by the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP. An intergovernmental renegotiation in the General Assembly of the dashboard and of the specific indicators identified by the High-Level Expert Group is unlikely to be particularly fruitful. In our view, the UN Statistical Commission seems the most sensible forum to inherit, at a technical level, the dashboard from the High-Level Expert Group, particularly noting the need to address gaps in national data collection identified by the authors. Any further refinement of the dashboard and its indicators should, we believe, take place in that body, including consideration of coherence with existing vulnerability frameworks before being referred for broader country consultations. Secondly, we encourage the co-chairs to make use of the UN's enormous convening power to ensure that relevant stakeholders, particularly ministries of finance, the international financial institutions, credit rating agencies, and civil society are involved in the intergovernmental process. This is important not only to inform the process, but also to ensure that whatever is agreed is implementable in practice. This is especially important for countries with constrained public finances and high vulnerability to external risks. Thirdly, we think it worth considering how to connect this Beyond GDP work with the 2027 SDG Summit and post-2030 agenda discussions. In our view, the Beyond GDP process should inform those discussions, including about how to measure sustainable development effectively, rather than taking place in parallel to them. As such, we would recommend consideration be given to concluding the Beyond GDP intergovernmental process prior to the 2027 SDG Summit at the latest. In conclusion, please rest assured that CAN stands ready to engage constructively in this process, and we look forward to working with you as co-facilitators and with all other stakeholders in this important work. I thank you.

I thank the representative, the distinguished representative of New Zealand for that statement and that brings us to the end of group statements. We now move to national statements. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Kenya to be followed by Morocco.

Thank you, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues. Kenya aligns itself with the overarching call to move beyond gross domestic product as the sole measure of progress. While the GDP remains a useful indicator of economic activity, it does not sufficiently capture the lived realities of our people, including inequality, environmental sustainability, social cohesion, and resilience. As highlighted in the expert group's report, progress must be understood as equitable, inclusive, and sustainable well-being, encompassing economic, socio-environmental, and institutional dimensions. For Kenya, this shift is particularly relevant. Our national development priorities anchored in the bottom-up economic transformation agenda and our commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development underscore the importance of inclusive growth, climate resilience, human capital development, and social protection. These priorities cannot be fully reflected through based metric alone. In this regard, Kenya supports the development of country-owned, universally applicable indicators that complement GDP while remaining adaptive to a national context. emphasize that this process must remain member state driven, building on existing framework such as the sustainable development goals and supported by the strengthened national statistical systems. Furthermore, we underscore the need for international cooperation and support, including financing, reliable data, technology transfer, and capacity building to enable developing countries to implement these new measures framework effectively. In conclusion, Kenya reiterates its commitment commitment to engage in constructively in this process, we feel the Beyond GDP agenda as an opportunity to better align global measurement systems with the realities of our people and the imperatives of sustainable development. We look forward to further discussion aimed at delivering practical, inclusive, and actionable outcomes. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Kenya, I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco, to be followed by Jamaica.

Thank you very much. First of all, we congratulate you on your appointment as co-facilitators of this important process. we reiterate our strong commitment to the Beyond GDP agenda since its inception. For many developing countries, and particularly middle-income countries, GDP alone does not adequately reflect structural vulnerabilities, social disparities, environmental shocks, resilience gaps, and constraints related to access to concessional and non-concessional finance. This priority was reflected in both the Rabat Declaration on middle income countries adopted in 2024 and also in the Makati Declaration adopted in 2025, which strongly supported the Secretary General's call to advance the work of the high level expert group on, on beyond GDP. We are glad that this mandate is delivering tangible results, and we congratulate the members of the High-Level Expert Group for the completion of their work and for the substantive report. We welcome the ambition reflected in the report, namely its effort to advance an integrated framework centered on well-being, sustainability, equity, and resilience. The report represents an important contribution to our forthcoming intergovernmental discussions on how we can better capture the realities and aspirations of developing countries beyond traditional economic indicators alone. My delegation is currently studying and analyzing this report at the level of the capital, but given the importance and the far-reaching implications this discussion may have on the international cooperation and also on development policies. But allow me to share quickly three initial elements. that are very important on the way forward. First, the future framework should generally and comprehensively reflect the three dimensions of sustainable development, economic, social and environmental, in a balanced, integrated and universal manner. Second, the outcome of this process should go beyond purely statistical considerations. It should also provide meaningful policy guidance, capable of informing public decision making, including how development priorities are assessed, how budgets are allocated and how access to development financing is considered. Third, underline the important roles of the statistical commission and the broader statistical community that can play in, uh, feeding this intergovernmental process. Finally, We believe that this process deserves allocating necessary time and space for consultations and inclusive dialogue among member states. The goal is to have a serene dialogue and fruitful negotiations for achieving comprehensive outcome for current, present, and future generations. Process needs time, careful consideration, and broad ownership and sustained engagement.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Jamaica, to be followed by South Africa.

Thank you, Chair. My delegation aligns with the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China, Palau on behalf of AOSIS, and the Philippines on behalf of MIX. Let me extend my congratulations first and foremost to you both on your appointment to serve as co-facilitators of this intergovernmental process. We trust in your and assure you of Jamaica's full support and constructive engagement throughout. I also extend appreciation to the Secretary-General and to the Independent High-Level Expert Group for their work. I thank the co-chairs of the expert group for their report that was presented today, which is a key step in the fulfilment of the request made by Member States in the Pact for the Future. We take note of the recommendations set out in the report and look forward to discussing them in further detail throughout this process. We also welcome this moment that marks the transition from the technical to the political phase of this initiative, as we seek to establish new global norms in the measurement of progress that go beyond and complement GDP. Jamaica has consistently advocated for the development of measures that more accurately assess countries' development progress and needs, and that lead to reform of development finance cooperation. We therefore view the launch of this report and the start of this intergovernmental process as positive steps forward. A key message of the High-Level Expert Group report is that a narrow focus on economic output will keep delaying action on long-term risks and keep prioritizing short-term economic gains over the broader well-being of people and the planet. The cost will be borne by future generations and by the planet itself. I take this opportunity to remind that this is a key principle of the Declaration on Future Generations that Member States committed to two years ago. Jamaica welcomes the intergenerational underpinning of the Beyond GDP framework, which considers the well-being of not only the present, but also that of future generations, recognizing that future outcomes depend on actions taken today. The principles of intergenerational fairness and equity are firmly grounded in the normative framework set out in the Declaration on Future Generations and must continue to guide our deliberations going forward. Co-facilitators, Jamaica believes that the Beyond GDP process provides a useful opportunity to deliver on our commitments to present and future generations, and to accurately assess whether today's decisions will improve the lives of those who will follow us. In closing, I reaffirm Jamaica's full support to this process and our commitment to advancing the Beyond GDP agenda. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Jamaica. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa, to be followed by Japan.

South Africa aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 in China and Mauritius on behalf of the Africa Group, and would like to convey the following in its national capacity. At the outset, South Africa welcomes the completion and presentation of the final report of the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP. We express our appreciation to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and the Office of the President of the General Assembly for the continued implementation of the Pact for the Future without delay. Co-Chairs, We note that the final report was released to Member States a few days before today's informal consultation, meaning that capital and relevant national bodies, such as stats agencies, have not been afforded sufficient time to study the report. The following remarks are therefore preliminary. Overall, at cursory glance, South Africa is pleased with the approach of and recommendations in the final report on Beyond GDP, particularly the foundational principles of the conceptual framework and the dashboard of indicators, which are based on the UN Charter and are congruent with the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, respectively. The congruence between the dashboard of indicators and global SDG monitoring processes is appropriate, as it enables member states to adopt and implement the Beyond GDP framework immediately. South Africa is further pleased that the final report contains sector-specific recommendations, particularly for governments and the UN. Given the current trend of diminished allocation of ODA, the final report's recognition of the important role of ODA to global development efforts, in this case, the increased availability of data, underscores the global South's continued appeal about the need for the fulfilment of ODA commitments, not for their own end, but for the development and good of humanity. The UN specific recommendation is also noteworthy as it recognizes the UN's central role not only in global norm setting, but in advancing the global development agenda, which is currently under strain. South Africa appreciates that implementation of the Beyond GDP framework will ultimately rest with member states. However, the UN's role of global strategic guidance remains relevant. Notwithstanding the preceding, and to reiterate our earlier point, given the importance of the Beyond GDP framework to national development efforts, South Africa underlines the importance of allowing adequate time for Member States, especially national stats agencies, to study the final report and contribute meaningfully to its review. We trust that another opportunity will be accorded to Member States to engage with the high-level expert group prior to the commencement.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa, and I now give the floor to the representative of Japan, to be followed by Indonesia.

First, we'd like to congratulate Permanent Representatives Guyana and Spain on your appointments as the co-facilitators of this intergovernmental process. And Japan would also like to express its sincere appreciation to the high level expert group for delivering its final report and for its extensive consultations, uh, and broad engagement with the wide range of, uh, stakeholders. Uh, we see relevance in the concept of equitable, inclusive, and sustainable wellbeing as mentioned in the report. In this regard, Japan has been working to promote well-being at various stages of life, including through efforts to promote healthy longevity in an aging society. Japan has also explored initiatives to support social cohesion, such as measures to address loneliness and social isolation. Japan welcomes the work of the High-Level Expert Group in developing the 31 indicators presented in the final report and looks forward to closely examining the applicability and practical relevance across diverse national contexts. Japan notes that the areas highlighted under the component entitled Current Wellbeing, including health, education, quality of institutions and environmental quality, are well aligned with Japan's longstanding ODA policy, which is guided by the principle of human security. Looking ahead to the intergovernmental process, it will be essential to ensure that the process remains inclusive, transparent and practical for all member states. Moreover, even where the proposed indicators appear to have relatively broad coverage, there continue to be differences in data availability across countries. In this regard, we should remain mindful of the varying data availability and statistical capacities of different member states, which may require flexibility in the implementation of the proposed indicators. Japan will continue to engage constructively in the discussions with a view to ensuring that this initiative is effective and applicable to diverse national contexts. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Japan, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia, to be followed by Pakistan.

Thank you, co-facilitator. Indonesia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and wishes to add the following in our national capacity. Indonesia congratulates Guyana and Spain on their appointment as co-facilitator of the intergovernmental process on Beyond GDP. We also appreciate the work of the high-level expert group and welcome the presentation of its final report. Indonesia stands ready to engage constructively with its recommendations as we advance into the intergovernmental phase and we affirms our support for complementary frameworks that go beyond income-based measures and better reflect the multidimensional nature of sustainable development across economic, social, and environmental dimensions, in line with the Pact for the Future. In this regard, Indonesia sees the proposed framework in the report as a useful basis for further intergovernmental deliberation. We appreciate its focus on equitable, inclusive, and sustainable well-being, supported by a limited set of indicators and a practical implementation plan. We also note that the proposed dashboard builds on existing efforts with almost half of its indicator drawn from the SDG framework. Indonesia has mainstream SDGs indicators into our national development planning since 2017. We see this continuity as an important bridge between existing monitoring efforts and the Beyond GDP agenda while avoiding duplication and additional reporting burdens, as well as promoting coherence. And in this regard, Indonesia wishes to highlight two key principles. First, beyond GDP metrics must be universally applicable while respecting national ownership. And if I work must be flexible enough to reflect different national circumstances and capacities, particularly those of developing countries, while maintaining overall comparability at the global level. Second, this process must remain member state driven. Its credibility and legitimacy will depend on inclusive, transparent, intergovernmental engagement, ensuring that all voices are adequately reflected. To conclude, the outcome of this process must provide practical values. The measures we develop should serve a meaningful tools to support informed policy making and sustainable development outcomes for all. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan, to be followed by the Dominican Republic.

Thank you, Chair. We align with the statement delivered by G77 and China and have following remarks in our national capacity. We thank the co-facilitators, Guyana and Spain, for convening this first informal consultations and appreciate the presentation of the report by the high-level expert working group. Pakistan recognizes the importance of the broader discussion on indicators of progress beyond GDP. GDP remains an important measure of economic activity, but it does not fully capture the development realities. particularly of countries facing structural vulnerabilities, climate shocks, debt distress, inequality and limited fiscal space. We are still reviewing the report and awaiting for the guidance from capital. At this stage, we would like to share a few preliminary reflections. First, We question the basis of the three foundational principles proposed in the framework. Peace, human rights, and respect for the planet do not correspond to the three pillars of the UN. And hence, we would like to understand more about the choice of elevating these principles above all other dashboard indicators. Moreover, the indicators proposed to measure them appear narrow. For instance, peace is measured only through conflict-related deaths, which does not capture the broader conditions of peace and security. Similarly, under human rights, the indicators focus on discrimination and violence against women. These are important issues, but they do not reflect the full spectrum. Second, some of the proposed indicators do not fully reflect the principle of equity among countries. For instance, under environmental sustainability, indicators based on per capita emissions, biodiversity, intactness, and environmental assets merit more careful considerations. Countries that have contributed least to global emissions should not be assessed in a manner that constrains their development. Third, the report does not settle the question of aggregation or headline indicators. A dashboard may be useful as a diagnostic tool, but if beyond GDP indicators are expected to influence international development cooperation, including access to development finance, member states will need greater clarity on how these indicators would be interpreted, weighed, and used. Fourth, The proposed 2020 timeline for countries to begin publishing dashboards and for UN to publish the report needs careful assessment. While the ambition is welcome, the timeline should not run ahead of statistical realities or the time Member States need to adequately assess the proposed indicator frameworks. For these reasons, We believe that before moving into a full-fledged intergovernmental process, member states would benefit from more detailed technical briefings with the expert group, with the participation of relevant entities such as the Statistical Commission and other UN entities. We need to better understand the methodology, data availability, and possible use of these indicators in policy and financing decisions before rushing into negotiating any text aimed at endorsing the framework or recommendations of the report. Pakistan will continue to engage constructively in this important process. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Pakistan, and I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic, and then it will be Barbados.

Distinguished co-facilitators, Excellencies, our delegation aligns itself with the statements made by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China, by Palau on behalf of AOSIS, and by Philippines on behalf of the MalakMadi Group of Middle Income Countries. We're making the following statement in our national capacity. D, our thanks to the co-facilitators. We congratulate them on their appointment. We thank them for convening this first informal consultation, and we commend the presentation of the final report from the high-level expert group. Moreover, we express our gratitude to the various participants in the panel for their contributions regarding the development of conceptual frameworks, their recommended indicators and matters to consider in terms of implementation as a starting point to this intergovernmental process. We are of the view that this process is as timely as it is necessary. For countries such as ours, it is a clear opportunity to complement existing metrics with tools which continue to better reflect the realities of our people. Going beyond GDP is vital to capture the multidimensional nature of development and structural vulnerabilities. These indicators may help us to guide both our priorities and our efforts to forge policies which increase both effectiveness and efficiency, but also equity and well-being. Excellencies, colleagues, our delegation wishes to make three brief comments. One, it is vital to harness these efforts to pinpoint areas for cooperation between various frameworks. New indicators and existing frameworks, including SDGs and other relevant tools, must mutually complement each other, maintaining at the same time sufficient flexibility to reflect national realities and development priorities. My second point, the process must remain anchored in coherence and feasibility. It must aspire to have a feasible, applicable set of measures which make it possible to better draft policies and support inclusive approaches to sustainable development. We support positions expressed today regarding the inclusion of relevant sectors during the process. It's also important to guarantee that developing countries, particularly those in special situations, have the technical and statistical capacity necessary to implement these measures effectively without creating additional burdens. The Dominican Republic is ready to constructively participate in this process. We view the approach of going beyond GDP not as a substitute, but rather an ambitious complement and a necessary one to our work. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic. Can I give the floor now to the distinguished representative of Barbados, to be followed by Germany?

Thank you, Madam Co-facilitator. These remarks are aligned with those from the distinguished permanent representative of Palau on behalf of AOSIS and the distinguished representative of Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China. Let me begin by adding my voice to those that have congratulated the panel of experts for what is an excellent and very rich report, and also to congratulate the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General for the leadership that they have shown in this space for some time now, going back at least as far as the Our Common Agenda report. The need to go beyond GDP has been obvious to countries like mine for a long time. GDP measures, as we have discussed, are of course useful tools, but as the report clearly demonstrates, they have their serious limitations. In recognition of these limitations, small island developing states like Barbados have been arguing that we need other indices with which to measure development. I am especially pleased in this regard to see in the report the recognition of the recent work regarding the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index. The MVI and the use of climate vulnerability in particular as criteria to assess the development realities and prospects is at the heart of the arguments made in the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, and indeed the Bridgetown Initiative. We must therefore ensure that the MVI and the Beyond GDP processes progress hand in hand. In this regard, I take the opportunity to underline the point made by my AOSIS Chair, the distinguished PR of Palau. Coherence between these two processes is the key. In closing, Madam Co-facilitator, I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your fellow Co-facilitator on your appointment, to assure you both that you can count on Barbados' full support and engagement in a process that we know you will lead with efficiency and transparency. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Barbados, and I now give the floor to the representative of Germany, to be followed by Armenia.

Thank you, Madam Facilitator, and congratulations to your appointment and to Spain for the appointment as co-facilitators. Germany aligns itself with the statement of the EU and its member states. We are happy to see this process move forward, which is mandated by the Pact for the Future that Namibia and Germany co-facilitated. Our special gratitude goes to the members of the High-Level Expert Group for their intensive work in developing forward-looking and visionary recommendations. Beyond GDP is a fundamental and important topic that can positively affect the well-being of all human beings. And it is a dynamic field, both in economic science and increasingly in international fora. It is good to see that this process has now been launched at the UN, the core of the multilateral system and of international cooperation. This Beyond GDP process is a thread in addressing how to measure well-being and prosperity sustainably, can inspire our future discussions and should contribute actively to shaping an ambitious post-2030 agenda. On substance of the report, which we received only two days ago, there are two points that I would like to highlight. First, we fully support the intergenerational scope of the propositions made. Germany is convinced well-being can only be truly sustainable if it takes into account young people and future generations. Therefore, it is of great importance that young voices contribute their perspectives in order to actively shape our discussions. That is why we highly appreciate the consultative approach the High-Level Group took. The Youth Moving Beyond GDP initiative, which is supported by Germany, has played a significant role in this consultation process. The recommendations of younger generations were taken into account and incorporated into the report, for which we would like to express our sincere gratitude. It is important that young voices continue to be included and heard, also in the upcoming intergovernmental process. Second, we appreciate that the topic of inequality is given a prominent place in the report. Rising inequalities and concentration of wealth pose a serious risk to democracy, stability, social cohesion, and many of the SDGs. Inequalities cannot be reduced through the efforts of individual states alone. A coordinated approach is needed at a multilateral level. For this reason, Germany is a founding member of the Global Alliance Against Inequality, which was launched at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in 2025. The alliance aims at identifying and discussing practical solutions reducing inequality within and between countries. Our experts in capital in New York will, of course, analyze the report and its recommendations, and we look forward to the debate and the future process in implementing the Pact of the Future in this field. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Germany, and I now give the floor to the representative of Armenia, to be followed by Brazil.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, at the outset, we would like to congratulate the permanent representatives of Guyana and Spain on their appointment to lead this important and long overdue process and thank them for convening this important meeting. We also thank the co-chairs of the High-Level Expert Group for the presentation of the final report. We take note of its findings and recommendations, which provide an important basis for our future discussions, and we look forward to engaging with them further as this process moves forward. Armenia lies in cell with the statement delivered by the Philippines on behalf of the LMG mix, and we would like to add the following in our national capacity. As we enter its intergovernmental phase, it will be important to ensure that this process remains closely linked to the realities it intends to address. For many countries, including middle-income countries, the Beyond GDP discussion is not a purely methodological exercise. It goes to the core of how development is assessed, how vulnerabilities are understood, and how access to international support is determined. In this regard, we believe that resilience should be reflected more meaningfully within the broader understanding of development. The capacity of countries to absorb shocks, invest in sustainable infrastructure, preserve natural capital, and diversify their economies should form part of how progress and vulnerabilities are assessed, particularly for countries facing structural constraints and recurrent external shocks. Our work should also inform broader discussions on financing for development. As development metrics increasingly influence access to concessional finance, debt sustainability assessments, and climate finance, they should better reflect multidimensional structural vulnerabilities, particularly those faced by middle-income countries and countries in special situations. Finally, we would like to underline the importance of ensuring that this process remains fully inclusive and Member State driven, allowing for meaningful reflection of the perspectives of countries more affected by the limitations of the GDP. Armenia will continue to engage constructively in this process with a view to achieving an outcome that is practical, inclusive and responsive to the development challenges faced by many countries. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Armenia. And I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil, to be followed by Mexico.

Thank you, Chair. Brazil aligns itself with the statement made by Uruguay on behalf of G7+7. And we'd like to make some additional comments on our national capacity. First, we'd like to thank the co-facilitators and the Secretary General, and especially the High-Level Expert Group for presenting their report. Brazil is still analyzing the document, but our first reaction that is an interesting, extremely interesting report that tries to capture a whole range of indicators that could measure well-being. One important externality of this process, as it was also mentioned by the Ambassador of Palau, is the additional stimulus it provides for countries to advance the implementation of the SDGs. The environment, inequalities, gender balance, They are all issues that are not necessarily correlated to GDP growth, which is still the main target of our national policies. It's important that also that the report made an effort to consider the availability and feasibility of the indicators, and it recognized that some are broadly available today more than others. And, profiting the opportunity to have this interactive dialogue with the co-chairs of the expert group, I would have a specific question. Given that some of the indicators, as stated in the report, are available now, but not others, could the calculation of an index with only some indicators, like a partial one, jeopardize the balance of the dashboard? Could it be a bias toward one of the pillars, for instance? And finally, moving forward with the intergovernmental process, we expect a transparent and text-based process, and with Guyana and Spain as co-facilitators, we are convinced that this is not going to be a problem, we are completely confident that we are in good hands. And we would be happy to have a roadmap and a timeline to guide our debates. And Brazil is ready to engage constructively with the co-facilitators and our colleagues to have a successful outcome. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil, and I give the floor now to the representative of Mexico, to be followed by Timor-Leste.

Thank you very much, Ambassador. Mexico aligns itself with the statement delivered by Philippines on behalf of the like-minded group of middle-income countries. We wish to add the following remarks in our national capacity. At the outset, we congratulate the permanent representatives of Spain and Guyana on their appointment as co-facilitators of this intergovernmental process. Mexico appreciates your leadership in advancing the commitments contained in the Pact for the Future. That document recognizes the need to develop measures of progress on sustainable development that complement and go beyond GDP. We also thank the High-Level Expert Group of the Secretary-General for their valuable work, and we welcome the presentation of its final report, which Mexico is already reviewing carefully as an important contribution to this process. this next stage represents an important opportunity to move from an expert-led technical discussion towards a Member State-driven process, a process aimed at shaping a broader and more comprehensive understanding of progress and of sustainable development. Mexico is of the view that the initial design of this process should build upon existing international agreements as well as existing statistical frameworks and SDG-related indicators. We must avoid duplication and the creation of parallel systems. With this in mind, we welcome the report's efforts to draw significantly upon existing SDG indicators as well as other established methodologies. It emphasizes their practical uptake and policy relevance. We also believe that this process should remain a technical, gradual, and implementation-oriented exercise, it is important to prioritize the quality, usability, and policy relevance of indicators over their quantity, while at the same time we must carefully assess the additional analytical value of any new metrics within the broader sustainable development data ecosystem. Moreover, interoperability with national statistical systems will be essential to guarantee comparability, national ownership, and the viability of implementation. Here, we underscore the important role of the Statistical Commission in supporting methodological coherence and in strengthening national capacities. Mexico also underscores that this process must recognize the diversity of national realities, including the particular challenges faced by middle-income countries, measures which go beyond GDP must build a more nuanced understanding of development pathways and vulnerabilities. This should also be borne in mind in discussions related to access to development finance, technical cooperation and international support. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Mexico, and I give the floor now to the representative of Timor-Leste, to be followed by the Russian Federation.

Dear co-facilitators, let me join by congratulating you on your appointment. Excellency, Madam Deputy Secretary-General, Excellencies, thank you very much for convening this informal consultation. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China, and Palau on behalf of AOSIS. We welcome the launch of the final report of the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP and commend the Secretary-General for delivering on the mandate of the Pact for the Future. For LDCs, including my own, this initiative is not only timely but also a matter of development justice. For decades, GDP has shaped how the world measures progress. However, it fails to capture the structural constraints that define our realities. In this context, we underscore the importance of integrating robust evidence-based tools that reflect these realities. The multidimensional vulnerability index offers a more accurate basis for assessing vulnerability and guiding access to concessional finance, international support measures, and development cooperation, particularly for countries that remain highly vulnerable despite income gains. The Pact for the Future rightly recognizes these gaps. We must now move decisively toward a multidimensional framework that captures well-being, resilience, environment, sustainability, and structural vulnerability. co-facilitators, while we are still reviewing the report in detail, we see clear promise in the experts group's recommendations. Their impact, however, will depend on an intergovernmental process that is inclusive, transparent, and responsive to the needs of countries with limited capacity. In light of this, allow me to highlight three priorities. First, new metrics must be country-owned and universally applicable while recognizing the special circumstances of LDCs like mine. Structural vulnerability, productive capacity, demographic resilience, and the MVI must be central. Second, we must significantly scale up investment in data and statistical systems. We believe that without predictable and sustained support, this agenda risks remaining aspirational. Third, beyond GDP must lead to tangible changes in international cooperation, especially in how concessional finance is allocated. how vulnerabilities are assessed and how progress is measured under the SDGs and future frameworks. Excellencies, the Beyond GDP agenda is one of the most transformative elements of the Pact for the Future. For countries like mine, it represents a long overdue opportunity to correct systemic inequalities and ensure that global frameworks reflect not only what we produce, but also the vulnerabilities we face and the resilience we build. We stand ready to engage constructively throughout the process.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Timor-Leste. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation, to be followed by China.

Madam co-facilitator, we thank you for organizing this event. We take note of the presentations by the co-chairs of the expert group concerning the report on the development of indicators for measuring sustainable development progress beyond GDP. We reaffirm our readiness to participate in the intergovernmental process being launched to develop these indicators. We call for a thorough consideration of this matter without undue haste. Delegations in New York should have sufficient time to coordinate with their respective capitals regarding the document under consideration. We also trust that in due course, the coordinators of the process will organize line-by-line negotiations that will allow member states to reach consensus-based solutions. We believe that these new metrics should contribute to supporting countries, primarily developing countries, in achieving the sustainable development goals. In developing this set of indicators and their substantive content, it is fundamental to preserve a balance among the three dimensions of sustainable development, economic, social, and environmental. Any imbalance, including in favor of the human rights or environmental agendas, is unacceptable in our view. Additional indicators, if properly developed, can certainly be useful. However, we emphasize that GDP retains its key role as the principal macroeconomic indicator. New metrics or indicators may complement it, but should not replace GDP, which remains universal. Likewise, new indicators in our view should be understandable to all, measurable, and should not allow for subjective interpretation or assessment. Their practical operationalization should be country-owned, taking into account national specificities, priorities, and levels of development. We are studying the report carefully, but I would note from the outset that some of its elements strike us as rather questionable because they concern subjective metrics that leave broad room for interpretation in the assessments conducted. Such an approach could be used as a harmful instrument affecting countries' headline aggregate indicators and consequently depriving them of access to financing. It is important that these new metrics do not affect the volume of technical assistance and do not become a heavy burden for countries in special situations. We consider it unacceptable for the indicators being developed to ultimately serve as a basis for dividing states into good and bad categories. Thank you for your attention.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of China to be followed by the United Kingdom.

Co-facilitators, China aligns itself with the statement by Uruguay on behalf of G77 China. I thank the co-facilitators, the PR of Guyana and Spain for presiding over today's meeting. I thank PGA, Bellberg and SG Guterres for their statements. And my thanks also go to the co-chairs of the High Level Expert Group for the presentation. I commend the role played by the DSG. As we speak, the global development landscape is undergoing profound changes. We're confronted with multiple cascading and interlocking crises and challenges. Beyond GDP is a crucial initiative for implementing the 2030 agenda and improving global development governance. China supports the launch of the intergovernmental process to promote and establishment of more scientific, comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable system to measure global development. China will study the report very carefully and participate in the process in a proactive and constructive manner, with regard to the selection of indicators, there is a need to uphold the fundamental principles while bridging, bridging, breaking new grounds. That is, the work in this aspect should provide useful supplements to the existing GTP framework, and the work also needs to keep pace with the times, incorporating new development concept of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development. It is important to respect differences in national conditions, capacities, cultural values and development needs among countries in different stages of development and avoid adopting single model globally. It is necessary to focus on strengthening the pillars of development, incorporating the systems in the system, the indicators that are concerns of developing countries such as industrialization, poverty reduction, food security, as well as indicators address critical weak links. Due consideration should be given to the availability and stability of the statistical indicators, with greater priority placed on the objective and quantifiable indicators. It is essential to make effective use of authoritative data, such as statistics from the UN and official government sources. to ensure the authenticity and reliability of indicator data. With respect to the intergovernmental process, it is imperative to uphold the member state driven principle. It is important to listen to the views of all parties, build consensus, ensure the indicator system is scientific, rigorous, as well as open and transparent to allow universality with flexibility. We must ensure the equal participation of all countries in this process, and in particular, in terms of the say of the developing countries therein. I would like to take this opportunity to ask a few questions. What type of model will be used to advance the intergovernmental process? Is there a timetable or roadmap? What are the expected outcomes? And what role will the expert group reports play in this consultation process? Thank you, co-facilitators.

I thank the distinguished representative of China. I give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom, to be followed by Ethiopia. The distinguished representative has the floor.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you to the High-Level Expert Group for a timely and pragmatic report. The United Kingdom welcomes this work as a direct response to Member States' call to count what counts, not by abandoning GDP, but by recognising that GDP alone cannot show whether lives are improving, inequalities are narrowing, or progress is sustainable. We want to ground our remarks in lessons from more than a decade of SDG implementation. The SDGs demonstrated the value of a shared framework, but also showed that when indicator systems become too complex or detached from national planning and budgeting, their influence on decisions weakens. Alignment with national statistical systems and policy processes proved decisive. That is why we welcome the emphasis on practicality and use, building on existing indicators, focusing on people's lived experiences and planetary limitations, and recognising the complementary roles of dashboards and headline measures. Strong synergies with frameworks such as the SNA, SAEA and the SDGs will be essential to enhance usability and avoid duplication. Beyond GDP will only succeed if indicators align with national systems and decision-making, measures that can be produced regularly, used by finance ministries, and that highlight trade-offs between short-term growth and long-term resilience. Further development should be anchored in existing statistical governance, including the UN Statistical Commission, alongside a full and participatory intergovernmental process. Finally, we welcome the inclusion of unpaid care work as economically material and the focus on cross-border spillovers and global public goods. In closing, we should stay focused on feasibility and country ownership and modernise how we define and pursue progress. We look forward to working with you on this process. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ethiopia, to be followed by Bhutan.

Thank you, Mr. Cofer-Snider. Madam Deputy Secretary-General, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Mauritius on behalf of Africa Group and Uruguay on behalf of Group of 77 and China. At the outset, let me congratulate Guyana and Spain on their appointment as co-facilitators of this important initiative. You will have our full support. I thank all the members of the expert group for presenting their comprehensive report that sets global norms for measuring progress beyond GDP, together with a practical indication for implementation. As the world grapples with consequences of rising inequality, cycles of poverty, digital divide, and climate change, this initiative provides a crucial alternative, an alternative that puts the well-being of people and the planet at the center of economic measurement, where we have to ask where progress is, whether progress is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable. Overreliance on conventional income-based metrics alone have not fully captured the resilience of societies, the complexity of development challenges, and the multidimensionality of poverty. While my delegation is still reviewing the report, we welcome the transition to the intergovernmental process that involves Member States and all relevant stakeholders. This is critical to realizing a broader consensus and implementation at the national level to inform policy decisions. Let me also emphasize this. While this report is both bold and ambitious in its scope, this important effort requires sustained investment in statistical systems, quality of real-time data availability, and the political commitment to bring this agenda to life. For Ethiopia, ensuring economic, environmental, social, and institutional sustainability for future generations is an indispensable part of our development objective in the process. As I conclude, let me reiterate my country's support to the Beyond GDP initiative and the UN's role in further consolidating this framework to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ethiopia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bhutan, followed by Colombia.

Distinguished co-facilitators, Excellencies, Bhutan aligns with the statement by G7, G7 and China. In our national capacity, we would like to state that the Kingdom of Bhutan warmly welcomes the launch of this landmark report and extends sincere appreciation to the Secretary-General and all the members of the High-Level Expert Group. For Bhutan, this moment carries particular meaning. More than five decades ago, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth King of Bhutan, propounded the development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, not as a rejection of material progress, but in recognition that the purpose of development is the flourishing of human beings in harmony with one another and with the natural world that sustains us. Bhutan has since translated that philosophy into the Gross National Happiness Index, a comprehensive multidimensional framework spanning nine domains, and Bhutan conducts periodic GNH surveys to determine the domain-level data on the well-being of our people. Those survey findings feed directly into the formulation of national plans, shaping the allocation of public resources and the design of national policies in ways that GDP data alone could never guide. Beyond the public sector, Bhutan has developed a GNH certification program for the private sector, which applies GNH principles to business practices. In this respect, Bhutan's experience resonates with the broader international conversation, including the work of the OECD through its Better Life Index and the broader well-being framework. The report before us today is the most authoritative expression yet of the global shift in thinking. We are honored that the report acknowledges Bhutan among the countries that have pioneered multidimensional dashboards, and we accept the recognition as an encouragement to continue. Bhutan looks forward to engaging actively in the intergovernmental process and to contributing to the discussions that will shape a new global standard to measure progress. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Bhutan. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia to be followed by what will be the last statement under stakeholders, an NGO representative.

Co-facilitators, Excellencies, colleagues, Colombia aligns itself with these statements made by Uruguay on behalf of G77 and China and by the Philippines on behalf of the like-minded group of mix. We wish to make the following comments in our national capacity. We congratulate the ambassadors of Guyana and Spain for their appointment as co-facilitators of the intergovernmental process on beyond GDP. Colombia wishes them every success as they steer this important process. Colombia welcomes this first informal consultation. and will examine the recommendations issued by the High-Level Expert Group in detail. Beyond GDP must be integrated into the global framework of SDGs indicators and must be rooted in the work of the Statistical Commission that will avoid parallel structures or additional reporting burdens. Colombia underscores the importance of preserving and strengthening investments made into SDG indicators over the last decade. The Beyond GDP process must consolidate this progress and, through a sustainable framework of indicators, promote consistency and coherence between national processes, must avoid overburdening data sources and having too many of them. Beyond GDP must be aligned with lessons learned from the Inter-Institutional Expert Group on SDG indicators. Colombia is of the view that the financial sustainability of the indicators must be borne in mind from the design stage. With that in mind, synergies with the SEVIA commitment offers an opportunity to mobilize financing designed to strengthen national statistical systems. At the same time, it will guarantee means of implementations and avoid the creation of obligations without sufficient resources underpinning them. Beyond GDP should be understood as an instrument that strengthens the implementation of Agenda 2030 and helps to prepare the statistical infrastructure and architecture for post-2030. For developing countries, metrics influence risk perception, access to financing and investment conditions. Consequently, we must think about structural vulnerabilities and efforts to ensure sustainability. All of these must be reflected as we contribute to a more equitable international financial system. Colombia recognizes that several well-being measures have already been incorporated into the system of national accounts in its most recent edition, that is 2025. We underscore the need of promoting dialogue between existing bodies sharing lessons learned and avoiding the duplication of institutional structures. Finally, Colombia is prepared to participate constructively in this process, and we share the goal of forging towards a measuring system which supports sustainable development. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia. I now give the floor to our next speaker under stakeholders, the NGO representative from Children International. They will be followed by Sudan that didn't take the floor earlier. Thank you.

Thank you, co-facilitators, for the floor. I am Yash Harimalla, speaking on behalf of Children and Youth International. I serve as the global focal point of the Youth Science Policy Interface Platform working across MOI agenda. I speak today on behalf of the Financing for Development Children and Youth Constituency of the Major Group for Children and Youth. First, we congratulate the expert group and the consultative process that informed the report, including engagement with youth. We also congratulate the co-facilitators on their appointment. Second, we emphasize that the real test lies in how beyond GDP metrics are integrated into global governance and financing processes. We welcome the report's recommendations regarding the statistical commission. However, the ambition must go further. The intergovernmental process launched today must ensure that these metrics inform approaches to the special drawing rights, vulnerability, debt, and the development financing frameworks. This is a prerequisite for any credible post-2030 framework and the rights of youth and future generations. Excellencies, no UN reform is complete without the reform of the international financial architecture. Third and finally, the intergovernmental process must ensure open and inclusive modalities, including participation of civil society, particularly the major groups and other stakeholders throughout its proceedings. It should also build on best practices from other processes, including the tax committee, which also was, which also advanced by the pact. While we welcome the opportunity to address this meeting, we hope this is the first of many opportunities for stakeholder engagement throughout this intergovernmental process. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of that NGO, Children and Youth International. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative to Sudan. That will be the last statement.

Facilitator, Madam Deputy Secretary-General, distinguished delegates, Sudan aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the G77 and China and the African group and would like to deliver this statement on its national capacity. We thank the co-facilitators for convening this important meeting and extend our sincere congratulations to all members of the High-Level Expert Group on the completion of their final report. This is a landmark contribution, one that arrives at exactly the right moment. Excellencies, Sudan wishes to underscore three calls to action. First, move quickly from framework to implementation. The report recommends that governments establish national progress dashboard by 2027. We believe this is achievable, and we commit to beginning that work at home. The upcoming intergovernmental process should produce a clear timeline with concrete milestones, not open-ended language that actions independently. Second, embed this framework where decisions are actually made. The report is clear about that earlier initiatives have stalled because they remained outside the core machinery of governments. We must learn from that experience. Third, invest in the statistical capacity that makes this real. Ambition without data is rhetoric. The tiered approach proposed by the expert group is the right architect. But tiers do not fund themselves. We call on this process to produce concrete commitment on financing for national statistical office, on South-South cooperation, and on the international coordination mechanisms needed to close data gaps, particularly for least developed countries where the need is greatest. As co-facilitator, for too long we have measured narrowly and governed accordingly. The expert group has done its part with seriousness. It's now our responsibility as member states to do ours. Sudan is committed to this process and will engage actively in the negotiations ahead. We look forward to strong action-oriented outcomes. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Sudan. That brings us to the last speaker at this meeting. I now give the floor to Deputy Secretary-General, Her Excellency Amina Mohammed, to deliver a statement.

Thank you very much, excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for the feedback that we have heard on the floor, as a testament to how much we have engaged with the report. I also want to add my thanks to our two co-conveners, co-chairs of the High-Level Expert Group, and congratulations too to the co-facilitators. Excellencies, over the course of my time as the Deputy Secretary-General, I would like to say, in the privilege of having guided many expert groups through their work, this is one group, I can tell you with confidence, has stood apart. The high-level expert group brought together economists, statisticians, environmental scientists, practitioners, and policymakers from every region in the world, and each of them carrying their own discipline and their own insights on how to improve the way that the world measures progress. Over the course of a year of careful work and tough work, they have shaped something more considered than any of them could have produced alone. The process was rigorous, and the report launched today bears the imprint of that work on each of its pages. To each member of the group, I want to say a big thank you. You have given the international community a foundation that we will be building on for years to come. I would like now to turn to Member States. Over the past year, your contributions shaped the substance of the report that is before you today, and in ways that make the Beyond GDP Dashboard more usable. The decision to draw so heavily from existing SDG indicators, for example, came directly from your Council. You asked the group to keep this feasible, to avoid duplication, and to build on what already exists rather than adding new burdens to already stretched statistical systems, and the group listened. This is a moment to also remember where this work began. The launch of this report represents a pivotal step in delivering on the pact for the future. updating tools of cooperation that are fitting for the 21st century. We are working in a time of considerable geopolitical strain, when confidence in the multilateral cooperation is being tested. And yet, here in this room, we've seen a diverse group of member states across regions and across political traditions engaging constructively with this agenda. but we have also heard the call from civil society to make sure that it is included with all the major groups in the coming weeks and months. The report also delivers on a commitment from 11 years ago, when we adopted the 2030 agenda. There, we made a commitment to develop measurements of progress that complement gross domestic product. The dashboard before you today is a fulfilment of that commitment. It sits within the broader vision that we set out in 2015, a vision of sustainable development that holds together the wellbeing of people, the health of our planet and the prosperity that we share. The goals articulate a full vision of the world that we want, and the dashboard provides us with a practical compass to help us to navigate our way there. We have heard much feedback from the floor on those areas that we need to take more consideration of. Excellencies, the next chapter of this work belongs to you, the member states. The intergovernmental process has started, and I would encourage all of us, especially our delegations, to make it your own. Speaking to the co-facilitators about what you need from this process, and we heard a few of those statements today, and about what success looks like from your vantage point, so that the resolution you arrive at provides clear direction for how this agenda is implemented and how it will shape people's lives at the country level. I can assure you, I believe we are in good hands, and I thank the Permanent Representatives of Spain and Guyana, who will co-facilitate the process ahead. We are grateful for their leadership as this next chapter unfolds. For our part, the United Nations stands ready to provide its full support to Spain and to Guyana as the intergovernmental process moves forward. We will also support those countries who express their interest in receiving UN technical support in understanding better beyond GDP measures in their own statistical systems and policy frameworks. Excellencies, it's a moment, a long time in the making, and one we should not let pass without recognising what it represents. The way we measure shapes the way we govern, and the way we govern shapes the lives of billions of people who may never read this report but will feel its consequences. That is the responsibility that we carry from this room into the work ahead. Thank you.

I thank the Deputy Secretary-General for her statement. And before we bring this informal consultations to a close, I would like to thank you all for your inputs. You have very well reminded where this started in the pact for the future. We have placed it there, but it started a long, long time before us. But it's really because we want to create a better world for current and future generations. We must have, if not the best, close to the best measuring of the overall health of our countries and, by extension, collectively, our planet. Whatever we do here will give us a better picture of the needs and how our institutions, not least our financial institutions, will respond to them. We have heard you loud and clear, and your inputs are instructive as we consider the timeline and the roadmap to move forward. I am, of course, honoured to join Ambassador Gomez in being your co-facilitator in what I hope will be an exciting and also productive journey. I now give Ambassador Gomez the last word.

Thank you very much. Dear Ambassador, I wish to echo the Ambassador and thank all delegations. I also wish to say that for Spain it is an honor to work with Ambassador Rodriguez-Birkett as co-facilitator of this process. We are very optimistic indeed. We harbor great hope in this process. I also wish to thank you for your presence here, your statements. I thank DSG Amina Mohammed for her leadership in this matter. We have taken due note of the comments and remarks shared by you, all these initial comments from you. This is the first of other meetings. We'll have as many as necessary. I assure you that there will be more opportunities for you to react to the High-Level Expert Group report and for us to understand where your priorities are. and that will be part of the next steps. We will circulate a letter with more information regarding next steps after this meeting. Many thanks to you all. I also thank the interpreters. The meeting is adjourned.