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New Zealand passes law to limit climate change lawsuits against firms
The legislation cleared parliament by a 67 to 53 vote and is designed to block civil litigation linked to the government’s climate policy.
New Zealand has passed contested legislation aimed at limiting civil lawsuits that seek to hold companies liable for climate change harm, clearing a final parliamentary hurdle on Tuesday night by a 67 to 53 vote, according to SCMP Economy.
The right-wing coalition government said the amendment is intended to prevent civil litigation from overriding its climate policy and to protect business confidence.
The law was introduced in response to a lawsuit filed by indigenous Maori climate activist Michael Smith against six New Zealand companies for their alleged contribution to environmental harm tied to climate change, a case the measure effectively ended.
Smith criticized the move as a “dark day for democracy,” arguing that parliament canceling a live court case undermines legal certainty, while the suit named major firms including dairy producer Fonterra, SCMP Economy reported.