New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government has declared a climate change emergency and commitment to a carbon-neutral government by the year 2025.
The motion that acknowledged the recent trend in the decline of global species and the indigenous species of New Zealand also raised concerns about the extreme weather that affects the wellbeing of people, industries, water availability, etc.
The motion tabled in the parliament was passed on Wednesday with Jacinda stressing the need for the country to 'act with urgency'. She also launched an initiative that demands the public sector to acquire carbon neutrality by 2025.
"It is up to us to make sure we demonstrate a plan for action and a reason for hope….This declaration is an acknowledgement of the next generation. An acknowledgement of the burden that they will carry if we do not get this right and do not take action now," she said.
Phasing out the largest coal boilers, stressing government agencies to purchase electric or hybrid vehicles and thereby reduce the size of their car fleet and setting a green standard for the public sector buildings are some other aims under this initiative.
New Zealand contributes to only 0.17 per cent of the total global emissions which is still a high rate considering the small size of the country, particularly when its emission has risen by 60 per cent in the past couple of decades.
While the opposition parties condemn the plan as part of a publicity stunt, the New Zealand government is yet to introduce carbon-cutting policies if it has to meet its emission targets. With this declaration, New Zealand has joined the thirty two other nations have already declared a climate change emergency after acknowledging the global crisis worsening each day.