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Jacinda Ardern Makes Incredible Speech As New Zealand Passes Zero Carbon Bill

Jacinda Ardern Makes Incredible Speech As New Zealand Passes Zero Carbon Bill

“Our world is warming, and so therefore the question for all of us is what side of history will we choose to sit on?”

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

New Zealand's leader has been praised around the world as her landmark legislation passes through parliament with cross-party support.

Jacinda Ardern's Zero Carbon Bill will see the country's emissions be brought to zero by 2050.

The prime minister delivered an inspiring and incredible speech to her fellow MPs, insisting she was proud that her country would be 'on the right side of history'.

PA

"I absolutely believe and continue to stand by the statement that climate change is the biggest challenge of our time," she said. "Undeniably, our sea levels are rising, and undeniably, we are experiencing extreme weather events - increasingly so.

"Undeniably, the science tells us the impact there will be on flora and fauna, and yes also the spread of diseases in areas where we haven't previously seen them.

"We know as well that some island nations will have their clean water sources impacted by a rising sea level and salt water entering into them. On a daily basis they are already seeing those impacts.

"Our world is warming, and so therefore the question for all of us is what side of history will we choose to sit on?"

giiku/Creative Commons

The Zero Carbon Bill will require future governments to stick to the requirements, which hope to ensure the average temperature doesn't exceed 1.5 degrees. The Opposition has already declared it wants to make changes to the bill if it wins power, according to news.com.au.

While the country will have until 2050 to bring its carbon emissions to zero, it wants to be fully reliant on an electrical grid that runs off renewable energy by 2035.

It targets both biogenic methane, which is produced by living organisms like cows, and other sources of greenhouse gases. There are specific wordings on how to tackle both issues.

Lizard Lord/Creative Commons

Farmers will be given a bit of leeway under the legislation.

Ms Ardern was backed up by Climate Change Minister James Shaw, who added: "We've led the world before in nuclear disarmament and in votes for women, now we are leading again.

"Climate change is the defining long-term issue of our generation that successive governments have failed to address. Today we take a significant step forward in our plan to reduce New Zealand's emissions."

Under the legislation, the country will set up a Climate Change Commission, which will advise the government on how to reach its targets.

There will also be a billion trees planted over the next 10 years.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Citizen Reef