Posted: 01:22, September 22, 2022 | Updated: 01:30, 22 September 2022
Jacinda Ardern has backed Prince William at an environmental summit in New York, describing herself as an “extremely poor surrogate”. The Prince of Wales personally asked the New Zealand prime minister to fill in for him at the Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit, a side event to the United Nations General Assembly’s leaders’ week. Backed by the British Royal Family and beloved environmentalist David Attenborough, the Earthshot Prize awards huge sums to conservation leaders as a way to incentivize sustainability efforts. Mrs Ardern was introduced by former New York mayor and billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who said the Kiwi prime minister was a “world leader on climate change” who had “dedicated her life to building a better world”. “I am an extremely poor deputy, but I also know that we all understand the need for His Royal Highness to be with his family at this time,” Ms Ardern said. “My message today is one of gratitude and encouragement. Jacinta Ardern (pictured) presented the Earthshot Award for Prince William at the New York Environment Summit The Prince of Wales has remained in Britain as he mourns with his family just a week after the Queen’s death (Image: Prince William with family, father King Charles and Prince Harry) “As governments we have a responsibility to create the incentives and space for you to flourish… and the responsibility that comes with stewardship. “We often think about our challenges, but imagine for a moment what we can achieve by channeling our potential.” Ms Ardern spoke about her government’s efforts to combat climate change, including a platform legislation to limit New Zealand’s emissions to 1.5C, with an independent agency and plan to do so. He also confirmed New Zealand’s ambition to become “the first country in the world to price agricultural emissions”. Earthshot Summit is backed by the Royal Family and David Attenborough to reward smart minds in sustainability Jacinda Ardern (pictured: back right) attended the Queen’s funeral alongside other world leaders earlier this week The Kiwi leader is in New York this week to deliver New Zealand’s address to the UN General Assembly, which she will deliver on Saturday morning (AEST). Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hangs over the world summit, with Ms Ardern telling reporters in New York that more countries are needed to condemn Vladimir Putin’s war. “What we need here is a cry from the people that what is happening here is illegal, it is immoral,” he said. “All this false narrative around liberating Ukraine, you don’t attack or threaten the use of nuclear weapons in a country you claim to liberate.” On Thursday, she will appear on a panel with her predecessor as New Zealand prime minister, Helen Clark, discussing pandemic preparedness. The Earthshot Award takes its name from US President John F Kennedy’s description of space travel as an audacious “moonshot”, an ambition that led to the creation of other technologies.
