The Second Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, officially known as the Economic and Financial Committee (C2), is the UN’s primary policy engine for global economic growth, sustainable development and financial stability.
Every member country has a seat on the committee, making it a key forum where developing and developed nations negotiate critical global policies.
Key Focus Areas
- Sustainable Development: Drafting policy resolutions tied directly to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), covering clean energy, food security and biodiversity, among others.
- Macroeconomic Policy: Addressing global trade, sovereign debt sustainability, international financial architecture and commodities markets.
- Poverty Eradication and Inequality: Formulating strategies to support Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
- Climate and Environment: Coordinating economic responses to climate change, desertification and environmental degradation alongside dedicated bodies like the UNFCCC.
The committee meets annually from October through December during the UN General Assembly session in New York. While its resolutions are generally non-binding, they establish powerful international consensus, shape global development targets and guide where UN operational agencies (such as UNDP and UNCTAD) direct resources.