Mr. Podesta participated in a plenary on extreme poverty and the post-2015 development agenda. As a member of the High Level Panel on the post-2015 development agenda, he shared his unique perspective in collaborating with other leaders to outline a vision of the global commitment to end extreme poverty by 2030 and global development efforts for the next 15 years.

Quotes

We can take the lessons of the MDGs and be specific with respect to targets, so that countries can measure themselves against universal norms but then create national plans to build strong, sustainable economics.

We are seeing movement towards strategic development assistance investments to enable more private sector investment, more systems development that will sustain strong economies.

There is no question, that all the gains we have made can be swamped by the effects of climate change.

Biography

John Podesta, Counselor to the President of the United States

John Podesta is the president and chief executive officer of American Progress. Podesta served as chief of staff to President William J. Clinton from October 1998 until January 2001, where he was responsible for directing, managing, and overseeing all policy development, daily operations, congressional relations, and staff activities of the White House. He coordinated the work of cabinet agencies with a particular emphasis on the development of federal budget and tax policy, and served in the president's cabinet and as a principal on the National Security Council.