NZ will become food sustainability leader: Ardern

PM Jacinda Ardern at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit at UN headquarters in New York...
PM Jacinda Ardern at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit at UN headquarters in New York City. Photo: Getty Images

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has told world leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit that New Zealand is "determined" to be the most sustainable food producer in the world.

The high-level meeting in New York has been billed as 2019's key political event for climate change and Ms Ardern was personally invited to give the opening leaders' address.

"We are determined that New Zealand can and will play our part in the global effort," Ms Ardern said.

"The situation is stark. It will not be easy.

"But our generation - we - have it within our grasp, not just to prevent the worst, but to build the best possible world for the generations to come."

She said New Zealand would lead the way on international collaboration on agriculture and was "determined to show that we can be the most sustainable food producers in the world".

Climate activist and Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg earlier gave an emotional appeal to world leaders, asking how they dared focus on growth when people were dying due to climate change.

The 16-year-old said: "Change is coming whether you want it or not".

Ms Ardern admitted New Zealand's global emissions had increased a little over 23 percent since 1990 and net emissions by 65 percent.

But she said the government had an ambitious agenda and the situation was starting to turn around.

"Our gross emissions peaked in 2006. Over 80 percent of our electricity already comes from renewable hydro and wind."

The summit's attendees have been restricted to countries which have made certain climate commitments, meaning the notable absence of speakers from nations such as the US and Australia.

Greta Thunberg addresses the Summit. Photo: Getty Images
Greta Thunberg addresses the Summit. Photo: Getty Images

Ahead of the event, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres implored world leaders to bring a plan not speeches to the summit.

Ms Ardern will speak again on climate change later today at an official UN forum to an audience including major business leaders and heads of states and government.

She may also raise the issue when she meets with US President Donald Trump.

Shortly after taking office, Mr Trump announced he would withdraw from the landmark Paris Agreement which commits almost 200 countries to tackle climate change with a pledge to keep the global temperature rise well below 2C.

But despite nations' repeated promises, global greenhouse gas emissions are continuing to rise.

During a visit to New Zealand in May, Mr Guterres praised New Zealand's climate change objectives as essential.

He told Kiwi students it would be an "absolute disaster" if the global temperature rose by more than 1.5C by the end of the century.

The government's Zero Carbon Bill aims to limit global warming to no more than 1.5C and to build a country and economy that can cope with the changing climate.

Ms Ardern earlier met her UK counterpart Boris Johnson for their first face-to-face meeting. They had spoken on the phone earlier this year shortly after Mr Johnson took office.

In a brief statement issued after the sit-down, Ms Ardern described the meeting as "very friendly and productive".

"Discussions focused on a post-Brexit free trade agreement and the desire to move quickly to negotiating a high quality, commercially meaningful deal as soon as possible once Brexit is complete," the statement said.

Ms Ardern said Mr Johnson agreed to look into "tariff rate quotas" and New Zealand's position that its exporters should be no worse off post-Brexit.

The two leaders also discussed security issues - including the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities - and the ability for skilled New Zealanders to live and work in the UK.

"Prime Minister Johnson expressed his condolences and concern regarding the 15 March terrorist attack in Christchurch and his support for the Christchurch Call to Action."

Comments

"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has told world leaders at the United Nations Climate Action Summit that New Zealand is "determined" to be the most sustainable food producer in the world".
Likely New Zealand taxpayers will pay over the top prices to do it too. What I want to know is why is the homelessness, skyrocketing property prices, poverty etc not being fixed first?.

Because that is measurable and within the country, so no overseas trips and nothing to be accounted for, just more rhetoric and virtue signalling.
Also Globalists don't care about their countries and the people within them. They care about the planet.
It's all big picture stuff. Join the movement and don't be selfish. Think about saving the planet.

The PM has not delivered on anything why would this statement be made/ as it means little/