New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will personally introduce a motion to declare a climate change emergency in Parliament.
A spokesperson for the leader expects the motion will be lodged next week.
"As stated during the election campaign, the Prime Minister will introduce a Government Motion to declare a climate emergency next Wednesday," the spokesperson for Ardern said. "The text of that motion will be publicly released on Tuesday."
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The plan to declare a climate emergency was mentioned in Parliament's business statement for next week's meeting, indicating that the Government intends to place the motion before the House.
"After oral questions on Tuesday, the House will debate a motion on the climate change emergency," the statement read. "That evening, the House will go into urgency to pass bills on tax changes and other matters."
Speaking on her way to the House, Jacinda Ardern explained to reporters that Labour has always considered climate change to be 'a huge threat to our region', adding that '[it's] something we must take immediate action on'.
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The reason for the motion only being tabled now it that it was blocked by Labour's coalition partners, New Zealand First, however Ardern did not comment on that.
The Prime Minister added that while declaring a climate change emergency doesn't tangibly do anything, it would likely push action in fighting the issue.
"A declaration is just that," Ardern said.
It comes following September's Newshub Leaders Debate, in which the PM was asked whether she would declare a climate change emergency, which Auckland Council voted unanimously to do last year.
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Ardern said during the debate she'd have 'no issue' with declaring a climate emergency after it was previously voted down in Parliament last year.
"It is an emergency and everything we've done demonstrates that," she said. "An emergency in real terms means stopping future offshore oil and gas exploration."
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