MCM 2021

Shared Values: Building a Green and Inclusive Future

After over a year of working together to protect the health and economies of our nations and the world, the need for collective action remains. Whether it is defeating COVID-19, building back our economies and societies after the crisis, addressing the climate crisis, or managing the disruptive impact of critical and emerging technologies, not a single challenge facing our citizens today can be effectively addressed by one nation alone. Finding solutions to these global challenges requires co-operation and co-ordination. It requires trust built upon the foundation of shared values. Further, the solutions must be green and inclusive to serve as multi-generational answers.

For 60 years, the OECD has served as an effective platform for likeminded, market-based democracies to work together and find solutions to our most pressing economic challenges. To honour the Organisation’s 60th anniversary and focus our attention on the crucial work at hand, our two-part 2021 Meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial Level (MCM), chaired by the United States with Korea and Luxembourg as Vice-Chairs, gathers Leaders and Ministers under the theme of “Shared Values: Building a Green and Inclusive Future”.

Part I of the MCM took place virtually on 31 May and 1 June and marked the handover in leadership of the OECD, reflected on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and shared priorities for the near-term recovery. Part II that took place on 5-6 October shifted the attention to addressing our medium- and long-term challenges, with a focus on the climate crisis and promoting the transition to net-zero to help build a green future, as well as on making the future more inclusive by promoting a digital transformation and creating opportunities for all. Building on our shared values – democracy, rule of law, human rights, and commitment to open and transparent market-economy principles and high standards in the digital economy – Members adopted a new Vision Statement to guide the Organisation for the upcoming decade.