Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said the motion was based on United Nations research showing carbon emissions need to reach zero by 2050 to avoid a 1.5 degrees Celsius rise in temperature, a threshold many experts say is crucial to protecting ecosystems as a government.

We are also announcing the carbon neutral government program that requires government organizations to be carbon neutral by 2025 way way must get our own house in order.

How can we stand and take a leadership position amongst the private sector unless we take the same action that we expect off them?

The motion was passed in parliament and met with applause.

The program will require government agencies to measure and publicly report carbon emissions and offset any they cannot cut by 2025.

In her speech, Ardent also argue this motion was vital to avoid human displacement, exhausting global resource is and protect future generations.

This declaration is an acknowledgement off the next generation and acknowledgement off the burden that they will carry if we do not get this right and if we do not take action now.

New Zealand joins 32 other countries, including Canada, France and Britain, all of which have declared a climate emergency.