TEDxChristchurch - Peter Beggs

Peter Beggs

Peter Beggs is the Chief Executive of Antarctica New Zealand, a Crown Entity of the New Zealand Government responsible for developing, managing and executing New Zealand Government activities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, in particular the Ross Dependency.

He is passionate about supporting scientific research, conserving the intrinsic values and raising public awareness of the international significance of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

Peter leads New Zealand's Antarctic Programme and represents New Zealand's Antarctic interests in a number of advisory and governance roles. These include: the Antarctic Heritage Trust's Executive Committee; Advisory Board of the Victoria University Antarctic Research Centre; the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP). He also participates in international Antarctic Treaty discussions.

Antarctica New Zealand

New Zealand's high regard by the world in the antartica:

Three possible reasons:

• New Zealand has been in Antartica for a very long time - since 1957
• Our international collaboration
• Our science is great

Although we are very small we have a leadership position in Antartica Science.

NZ can and must leverage our learnings on climate change.

What now:
We must maintain continuous presence;
Make a strong choice that others can follow;
Bold strong choice for NZ - how about there is a world that doesn't burn coal?
 - 44% of global green house omissions...
The small guy can have a disproportionately large impact as shown by a mosquito in a tent...

It is up to us to make the world a better place...