Story perspectives

New Zealand Bars Climate Damage Lawsuits, Overturns Supreme Court Ruling

5/15/2026

Summary

Story summary

New Zealand will amend the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to bar climate-damage lawsuits, overturning the Supreme Court’s decision in Smith v Fonterra.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the litigation harms business confidence and investment, noting the government will not alter climate obligations or Emissions Trading Scheme duties.
ClientEarth called the amendment deeply concerning and cited a United Nations court ruling that states must address climate harm.

History

Historical Context

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio and signed by 154 nations, created a legal duty for parties to curb greenhouse-gas emissions. Its consensus-based process has been criticised for slow progress, prompting countries to revise domestic climate laws, a trend reflected in recent New Zealand legislative proposals.

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Story summary

New Zealand will amend the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to bar climate-damage lawsuits, overturning the Supreme Court’s decision in Smith v Fonterra.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the litigation harms business confidence and investment, noting the government will not alter climate obligations or Emissions Trading Scheme duties.
ClientEarth called the amendment deeply concerning and cited a United Nations court ruling that states must address climate harm.

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