US may help finance emissions research - Key

The United States has indicated it would be prepared to financially back a New Zealand initiative to ramp up research into agricultural emissions, Prime Minister John Key says.

Mr Key today had high level meetings with the head of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon and former United States President Bill Clinton focusing on climate change.

Mr Key used the 15 minute meeting with Mr Ban to push New Zealand's proposal for a global alliance focusing on finding ways to reduce agricultural emissions and said the US and India were interested in the scheme.

The initiative would see a world-wide virtual network set up for climate change research into agriculture and food production.

"We've already had initial indications from India and the United States that they will be prepared to join us," Mr Key told reporters.

"At this point we are just trying to build a constituency for it, indications we've had from the United States is they are prepared to put in quite a lot of money."

He would push the idea when meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at a meeting this afternoon.

"Around about 14 per cent of the world's emissions come from agriculture and food production. We know by 2030 the demand for food will increase by 50 per cent and by 2050 by 100 per cent," Mr Key said.

About 60 per cent of developing countries had similar emissions profiles - where up to half came from agriculture - to New Zealand.

"If we are going to be in a world that's going to consume less carbon and yet feed more people we are going to have to find solutions and New Zealand is going to try and play a part in that," Mr Key said.

Mr Ban wants countries to commit a quarter of a trillion dollars a year to help developing countries. Mr Key would not commit to helping fund that but, said the New Zealand initiative would be a useful contribution.

Over 160 leaders have gathered at the UN this week before the general assembly but also today's summit on climate change.

President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao addressed the summit this morning. Mr Obama talked about the need for action but some media commented he gave no substance.

Mr Key said the US leader's presence and speech were in themselves significant and showed commitment.

"In that regard I think President Obama lived up to what he was billed to deliver."

The summit was held to try build political motivation towards an agreement in Copenhagen in December, where more than 190 nations will meet to agree a broader successor to the UN's Kyoto Protocol, which obliges developed nations to cut emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly from burning fossil fuels, until 2012.

Mr Key and Mr Ban also discussed Fiji and Mr Key was assured that the UN supported the Commonwealth and Pacific Islands Forum positions of suspending Fiji.

Mr Key raised the issue of the UN using Fiji troops as peacekeepers, which New Zealand opposes. Mr Ban said there was some reduction occurring.

Also this morning Mr Key had a meeting, about 45 minutes long, with former US President Bill Clinton.

"He was engaging, he was entertaining," Mr Key said.

Topics included Afghanistan, climate change, economic growth, and welfare reform.

Mr Key assured him New Zealand would play its part.

"He was quite interested in what we were doing in our energy area, geothermal for example."

He talked fondly of New Zealand and former prime ministers he met and said he would like to visit again.

- NZPA