Government Changes Climate Law to Prevent Lawsuits
The amendment would block tort claims over greenhouse gas harm and halt a High Court case against Fonterra and six other major emitters.
- On Tuesday, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the government will amend the Climate Change Response Act to prevent courts from ruling on climate-related liability, halting a High Court case against Fonterra and six other major emitters.
- Iwi leader Mike Smith won Supreme Court permission in 2024 to sue Fonterra and other major companies for climate damages, but the government's intervention halts this trial scheduled for April 2027.
- Goldsmith argued climate response is best managed nationally, not through "piece-meal litigation in the courts," and stated the law will "remove the possible development of a new regime that contradicts the framework Parliament has already enacted."
- Environmental organization Greenpeace labeled the move a "shocking abuse of power," while Lawyers for Climate Action president Jenny Cooper KC called it a "kneejerk reaction" that denies New Zealanders future compensation avenues.
- A separate climate case against Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, heard in March, remains unaffected by the amendment, with a reserved decision expected later this year.
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Climate law changed to prevent lawsuits
In 2024, iwi leader and activist Mike Smith was granted permission by the Supreme Court to sue Fonterra and other major dairy and fossil fuel companies. Photo: Getty Images Kate Newton of RNZ The government will pass a law preventing companies from being sued over climate change damage in many cases - a move environmental organisation Greenpeace says is a "shocking abuse of power".
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