Innovations in science and technology will be vital for tackling today's global challenges, from reducing poverty to ensuring sustainable development, top United Nations officials stressed, as they kicked off the annual substantive session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). "Science, technology, innovation and culture can significantly impact each of the three dimensions of sustainable development -- economic, social and environmental," said the President of ECOSOC, Ambassador Néstor Osorio of Colombia. "They present huge opportunities. But effectively channelling them for sustainable development also poses significant challenges," he added, addressing the opening in Geneva of the high-level segment of the 2013 session of the central UN forum for discussing global economic and social issues. While ECOSOC's substantive session runs from 1 to 26 July, Government ministers, private sector leaders and heads of UN agencies, funds and programmes are meeting for the next four days for the high-level segment, which this year is focusing on science, technology and innovation, or STI. Read more at Video produced by South South News