The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is a founding UN Charter body established in 1946. The world's economic, social and environmental challenges are ECOSOC's concern. The Council is the place where such issues are discussed and debated, and policy recommendations issued. ECOSOC has broad responsibility for some 70% of the human and financial resources of the entire UN system, including 14 specialized agencies, 9 "functional" commissions, and five regional commissions.