UNICEF People

Executive Director Ann M. Veneman addresses Copenhagen panel

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UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman.

By David Koch

NEW YORK, USA, 15 December 2009 – All eyes were on Copenhagen this week as the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 entered its crucial second week. UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman addressed – via video message – a distinguished group of UN climate experts at a panel discussion on Monday.

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The distinguished panel included: Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme Helen Clark; Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme Achim Steiner; Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme Josette Sheeran; and Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization Michel Jarraud.

President Mohamed Nasheed, of the Maldives, moderated the discussion, which was also attended by some 300 representatives from the United Nations, governments, civil society and academia.

In her address, Veneman highlighted how children and young people will be impacted first by a changing environment: “Today’s children and youth will inherit the earth. They are the least responsible for climate change, yet they are the ones who stand to pay the highest price,” she said.

These same children also represent the world’s best hope for addressing the challenges of climate change in their own communities. That is why, in the run-up to the conference, young people from 44 countries gathered in Denmark at the Children's Climate Forum to advocate for urgent action to protect the planet.

Learn more at uniteforclimate.org.