On February 12, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) New York Office hosted guests to celebrate two major milestones: the 150th birthday of Konrad Adenauer, our foundation’s namesake and the first German Chancellor, and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Delivering this year’s Adenauer Address was H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of 2026 Session of the ECOSOC and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, who spoke on “Delivering Better: The ECOSOC at 80.”
For eight decades, the ECOSOC has played a pivotal role in promoting peace, prosperity, and dignity for all. Amid lagging progress towards the 2030 Agenda, deepening divides and inequalities, and a worsening climate crisis, however, the need for renewed and revitalized multilateral dialogue and cooperation remains greater than ever. In his keynote, Ambassador Thapa reflected on how the Council can better evolve and deliver progress on pressing economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, highlighting:
- The urgent need to accelerate the 2030 Agenda. With less than four years to go, SDG implementation must be fast-tracked, requiring scaled-up investment, bold and innovative policies, and inclusive partnerships that engage the whole of society.
- Key priorities for the 2026 ECOSOC Presidency, including a focus on transforming agriculture and food systems to strengthen food security, championing digital inclusion and youth entrepreneurship, advancing climate action and resilience, and mobilizing greater financing for development to narrow the $4 trillion shortfall.
- The critical value of multilateral cooperation as a tool to deliver shared solutions and lasting progress. In today’s fractured global landscape, it remains more important than ever to strengthen multilateralism and rebuild trust—not just among nations, but also between institutions and the people they serve.
Reflecting on the occasion, KAS New York Executive Director Thomas Tödtling called to mind a radio speech of Konrad Adenauer from January 1957:
“We are not a member of the UN and, because the Soviet Union would prevent it with its veto, we cannot become a member of this world organization until Germany is reunified… But we are well aware that the United Nations is the most effective means of communication between nations divided into two blocs. That is why we will do what little we can to strengthen the effectiveness of this organization.”
Nearly 70 years later, and in this era of polycrisis, Adenauer’s quote still holds true. The UN is needed more than ever, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation remains committed to strengthening the multilateral system for a peaceful, prosperous future for all.
