New Zealand launches 'ambitious agenda' to fight climate change

Ardern said that although New Zealand accounts only account for 0.17 per cent of the global total, its gross emissions have increased a little over 23 per cent since 1990 and its net emissions by 65 per cent.

Wellington: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that the country has begun an "ambitious agenda" to fight climate change.

In her remarks to the Climate Action Summit at the UN headquarters in New York on Monday, Ardern said that although New Zealand accounts only account for 0.17 per cent of the global total, its gross emissions have increased a little over 23 per cent since 1990 and its net emissions by 65 per cent, media reported.

The New Zealand prime minister said they have begun an ambitious agenda. "We have introduced to Parliament the Zero Carbon Bill, the purpose of which is to ensure New Zealand lives within the threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming necessary for the wellbeing of our Pacific neighbours."

Ardern listed some measures to show New Zealand's determination. For example, it aims to plant one billion trees by 2028, with 150 million are already in the ground; it has stopped issuing any new permits for offshore oil and gas exploration; in their place, it is investing in green hydrogen, biofuels and the goal of 100 per cent renewable electricity generation by 2035.

Ardern emphasized that farming leaders have made their commitment to cutting emissions from food production.

"Over the next five years we will collaborate to build systems that every farmer will be able to use to measure, manage and reduce their own farm's emissions," she said, adding that the country is determined to show that "we can be the most sustainable food producers in the world."