New Zealand's bug man says humans need to have a more plant based diet for a more sustainable future.

The latest UN report shows that 1 million species are at risk of extinction for the first tine in human history.

Ruud Kleinpaste told Kerre McIvor he agrees that human activity is to blame through environmental destruction, climate change, and consumption.

Kleinpaste is positive, however, that New Zealand can be an exemplar to the rest of the world.

"We caused it, but we have the creativity to do something about it. I am teaching teachers to teach outside, so we regulate teachers and kids back to how the natural systems operate."

He says he is focusing on this group as young people are more evolved and aware of environmental concerns.

However, Kleinpaste says that we have a lot of answers already about what can be done. 

"Things like eating fewer items of meat and having a more plant based diet is really important."

Kleinpaste says that there needs to be more education on birth control to stop the population growing exponentially, and land should be used better.  

• One million species threatened with extinction