New Zealand boosts funding for Pacific
‘‘We recognise the importance of doing our part.’’ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
It may be controversial at home – but Jacinda Ardern’s announcement of New Zealand’s oil and gas ban at a key climate change event in New York has had a warm response.
There was applause when Ardern talked about the ban, and when she announced a boost to climate change assistance to hard-hit Pacific nations.
Ardern announced the extra funding at the opening of Climate Week in New York, at which she was one of the keynote speakers.
She told the audience it represented an increase in New Zealand’s commitment to $300 million over four years though it was not immediately clear if that was on top of an existing commitment of $200 million over four years to 2019.
It was later clarified that the boost was an increase of $100 million over four years additional to a previous commitment of $200 million over the four years up to 2019.
Ardern is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and is in hot demand with both American media and as a speaker at UN-related events.
Ardern’s star is high in the United States, where she is seen as flying the flag for Left-wing governments in a country led by a Republican president.
The boost to climate change funding is coming out of New Zealand’s Overseas Development Assistance fund which was increased at the Budget to support the so-called ‘‘Pacific reset’’.
It would focus on ‘‘practical action’’ to help Pacific countries adapt to climate change and build resilience, Ardern told the conference.
‘‘For example, providing support for coastal adaptation in Tokelau to reduce the risks of coastal inundation; and continuing our efforts to strengthen water security across the Pacific, building on current initiatives such as those in Kiribati where we are working to provide community rainwater harvesting systems and are investing in desalination,’’ Ardern said.
Her speech also focused on measures taken by New Zealand to meet its climate change commitments, including ‘‘urgent action to support our transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy’’.
‘‘Although New Zealand accounts for a tiny percentage of global emissions – only 0.16 per cent – we recognise the importance of doing our part.
‘‘But more importantly we recognise that global challenges require everyone’s attention and action. And we all have responsibility to care for the earth in the face of climate change.
‘‘This is not the time to apportion responsibility, this is the time to work across borders and to do everything we can by working together.’’
Ardern stressed that New Zealand was fully committed to the Paris Agreement – another area where New Zealand differs with the US, which has pulled out.
‘‘At home, my Minister for Climate Change is this week preparing a Zero Carbon Bill to legislate an ambitious goal that would be fully aligned with the Paris Agreement’s objective for the world to become carbon neutral in the second half of this century. We have already put in place some of the measures to get us there.’’