<p>
Prime Minister John Key says the New Zealand Government is pushing 
for a Global Alliance to research how to cut world-wide greenhouse gas 
emissions from agriculture.
</p>
<p>
Mr Key has been participating with other world leaders at the United 
Nations Secretary-General&#39;s Climate Change Summit in New York today.
</p>
<p>
&quot;To feed the world&#39;s growing population, we must find ways to produce more food without growing emissions,&quot; says Mr Key.
</p>
<p>
&quot;It will be agriculture that will have to meet the expected dramatic 
increase in global food demand over the coming decades, but this 
presents the world with the twin challenge of ensuring food security 
while reducing emissions.
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<p>
&quot;To meet this challenge, there is an urgent need for more 
international research and investment into new technologies and 
practices to help reduce agriculture-related emissions, and for greater 
co-ordination of existing efforts.
</p>
<p>
&quot;New Zealand considers a Global Alliance on agricultural greenhouse 
gas mitigation research could meet this need and welcomes partners in 
this initiative.
</p>
<p>
&quot;The Government has appointed a former Minister for the Environment 
and Science &#38; Technology, Simon Upton, as a special envoy to help 
engage with other countries on the concept,&quot; says Mr Key.&#160; 
</p>
<p>
Agriculture Minister David Carter says New Zealand is already 
well-positioned to make a significant contribution to a Global Alliance.
</p>
<p>
&quot;Our unique profile for a developed country, with almost half of all 
emissions coming from agriculture, has given us a firm foothold in 
understanding pastoral livestock emissions. 
</p>
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&quot;Through a Global Alliance, we can find solutions faster, make better
use of the money that is being spent around the world and encourage 
other countries and companies to do more,&quot; says Mr Carter.
</p>
<p>
Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues Tim Groser, also in New 
York for the summit, is building support for the Global Alliance 
proposal at a series of high-level meetings with other climate change 
ministers and negotiators.
</p>
<p>
&quot;We are already talking with developed and developing countries with 
significant agricultural production and/or agricultural research 
programmes about this.
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&quot;Food security is an issue of paramount importance, especially for developing countries, and must not be compromised.&#160;&#160; 
</p>
<p>
&quot;My meetings in New York are a valuable opportunity to continue to 
test interest in a Global Alliance and to forge a path to action,&quot; says 
Mr Groser.
</p>
<p>
John Key, David Carter, Tim Groser
</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-pushes-global-alliance-agricultural-emissions" target="_blank" title="http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-pushes-globa... - link will open in a new window">LINK </a><br />
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