Editorial APBest Relevance in Oil prices

Antonio A Ver
Convenor

From APBest’s roots at its founding in 2010 through its entry in the UNECOSOC in June 2014, the call for Oil pricing strategies continues more so in view of hitherto Regional war in the Middle East.

In two days from the attacks against Iran, oil prices spiked. Trading Economics reported: “WTI crude oil futures rose more than 6% to above $71 per barrel on Monday, the highest in over eight months, after earlier surging as much as 10% as unprecedented joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran sharply escalated tensions across the Middle East. Markets are closely monitoring the risk of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments and significant volumes of natural gas. Tehran insists the strait remains open, but shipping companies quickly began rerouting vessels away from the narrow waterway. Iran has also launched retaliatory missile barrages at US bases across neighboring countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq and Syria. Meanwhile, OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to increase production by 206,000 bpd in April, ending a three-month pause, but well below the 411,000–548,000 bpd that had been previously considered.”

“During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposed an embargo against the United States in retaliation for the U.S. decision to resupply the Israeli military and to gain leverage in the post-war peace negotiations.”

The world is not running out of oil. However, aggression has brought disruption in supply and demand. Peaceful, diplomatic means have not settled disputes in oil rich economies. Is the United States’ peace through deterrence the trigger to hit middle east countries with “Epic Fury” to gulp the oil from the Gulf? Or is it a euphemism because prices have surged?

APBest’s advocacy from its birth in 2010 has not been diminished, and needs a closer look in global energy economics of fossil fuels and renewables.
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ECOSOC Feature

Volume 30 | No.1 | January 2026

ECOSOC at 80: A milestone for global cooperation and sustainable development
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will commemorate its 80th anniversary by holding a special event on 23 January 2026. The event will be an opportunity to celebrate the Council’s many milestone achievements in improving people’s lives around the world. “We need to reflect on the legacy of ECOSOC and reaffirm its central role in shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking multilateral system,” says H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa (Nepal), President of ECOSOC.

Established by the Charter of the United Nations in 1945, the United Nations Economic and Social Council held its first meeting on 23 January 1946 in London. As one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, ECOSOC has been at the centre of global progress, advancing the principles of the United Nations Charter and promoting international cooperation on economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related issues.

ECOSOC has brought nations together to advance dignity, equality, solidarity and opportunity. It has championed human rights, promoted gender equality, and guided countries toward shared goals for a better future.

ECOSOC has also provided strategic policy guidance to the UN development system, while fostering, integration and coherence across its broad network of subsidiary and expert bodies.

By the 2000s, ECOSOC emerged as a central platform to review the progress of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and, since 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), helping to unite the global community behind a common vision of multilateralism and solidarity.

Throughout its history, ECOSOC has served an important platform for reflection, debate and innovative thinking, bringing together diverse actors to address the world’s most pressing sustainable development challenges. The Council’s work is enriched by over 6,500 NGOs in consultative status, and it provides civil society, youth and other stakeholders a platform to contribute to intergovernmental policy making.

Today, the world continues to face poverty, rising inequalities, fast-moving crises and growing pressures on our planet. Yet, ECOSOC remains steadfast in promoting sustainable development, safeguarding people and the planet while ensuring that no one is left behind.

“The role of ECOSOC has never been more relevant and important,” says President Thapa. “ECOSOC’s convening power is indispensable—for restoring trust in multilateralism and driving coherent, collective action in our shared interests.”

Follow the commemoration of ECOSOC at 80 live on UN Web TV to:

Learn more about ECOSOC’s impact and legacy over the past eight decades.
Celebrate ECOSOC as a forum for inclusive engagement
Highlight its crucial role in accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information: ECOSOC at 80: Commemoration Event

Note: APBest is active in Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC.

UN DESA Monthly Newsletter for January 2026

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Monthly Newsletter: Vol 30, No. 1 – January 2026
Download this issue as a PDF:

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ECOSOC at 80: A milestone for global cooperation and sustainable development

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will commemorate its 80th anniversary by holding a special event on 23 January 2026. The event will be an opportunity to celebrate the Council’s many milestone achievements in improving people’s lives around the world. “We need to reflect on the legacy of ECOSOC and reaffirm its central role in shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and forward-looking multilateral system,” says H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa (Nepal), President of ECOSOC.

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Coming Up

Happy Holidays from UN DESA!

 

Dear UN DESA Voice Readers,

We hope that this message finds you and your loved ones safe and well.

As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect on a year marked by turbulence and interconnected crises impacting communities worldwide.

Through these challenges, UN DESA has continued to work with determination and resolve to keep the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alive.

With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, UN DESA has led efforts to support an unprecedented series of high-level conferences and events this year, including the UN Ocean Conference, the Internet Governance Forum, the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the Second World Summit for Social Development, among others.

Our commitment to ensure that climate and SDG action are fully aligned also remains strong. Our SDG Pavilion at COP continues to serve as a hub for hope and action, advancing efforts to combat climate change while advancing the SDGs. If you missed some of the sessions at the SDG Pavilion at COP30, recordings are available on UN DESA’s YouTube channel.

Throughout the year, we have shared data, analysis, and policy advice with a global audience through the Global Policy Dialogue Series and our UN DESA Policy Briefs, addressing some of the most pressing issues facing policymakers worldwide. You can explore UN DESA’s latest publications on our website.

Looking forward to 2026, UN DESA will continue to support Member States – through ECOSOC and its functional commissions and advisory bodies, the High-level Political Forum and the Second and Third Committees of the General Assembly – in forging a just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.

To learn more about UN DESA’s efforts, we invite you to read UN DESA’s Annual Highlights Report 2025. You can also follow UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua on LinkedIn, for insights on sustainable development, international cooperation, and a behind-the-scenes perspective on major events.

As Mr. Li noted upon joining LinkedIn in May:

“At the United Nations, we represent diverse voices connected by a shared purpose: building a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable world. I’m glad to join LinkedIn and engage with this vibrant community and look forward to rich and scholarly discussions on the most pressing global challenges of our time”.

As this year comes full circle, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued readership and support of UN DESA’s work. We are honored to have you with us on this journey toward sustainable development for all.

We wish you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Stay well and safe!

With best regards,
The UN DESA Voice Editorial Team