1 September 2009: During a meeting with Danish Minister of Development Cooperation Ulla Toernaes, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark received a torch symbol of the Millennium Development Goal on gender equality and women empowerment (MDG3).

While receiving the MDG3 Torch, Clark reiterated UNDP’s commitment to raise the profile of women’s voices and perspectives in the international climate negotiations leading up to the December Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
Clark stressed that UNDP will continue to work with its partners, including the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), IUCN and the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) to support developing countries and to ensure that gender and climate change find a place in the agenda. Toernaes highlighted that, since women and girls are the ones to bear the brunt of climate change’s impact, particularly in agriculture, an agreement on climate change should recognize their position and special needs. [UNDP Newsroom]