Greta Thunberg Versus Jacinda Ardern Dispute On Climate Change Efforts

New Zealand PM, Jacinda Ardern (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, appears to be at odds with climate change activist Greta Thunberg. Ardern dismissed Thunberg's accusations that New Zealand had no ambition to fight climate change.

It all started when Thunberg tweeted criticizing New Zealand's declared climate emergency. The program said the New Zealand government was only committed to reducing emissions by less than one percent by 2025.

"The paper describing New Zealand's so-called climate emergency declaration is, of course, not unique to any country," Greta wrote.

"In other words, the Government has just committed to reducing less than 1 percent of the country's emissions by 2025". Text explaining New Zealand's so-called climate emergency declaration. This is of course nothing unique to any nation. # FightFor1Point5https: //t.co/Yp8nuek9Pn

- Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 13, 2020

Ardern responded to Thunberg's criticism. As quoted by Reuters, Tuesday, December 15, the New Zealand PM said the targets of the climate declaration only cover part of a broader climate change goal.

"If it was the sum total of what we did, it would be worthy of criticism. But it certainly is not, because only in part. His (Thunberg) role is just a form of virtue that there are people out there who continue to push for ambition and action," Ardern said. .

Previously, New Zealand had declared a state of climate emergency on December 2. By doing so, Ardern has promised his country to be emission-free by 2025. In this program, New Zealand will be supported by a large fund of 142 million dollars or equivalent to IDR 2 trillion.