
Government Rightfully Sued Over Illegal Climate ‘Plan'
'Luxon's Government has chosen to pour oil, coal and gas on the climate crisis fire. Their climate 'plan' is not worth the paper it is written on. That's why they're being sued today,' says the Green Party's co-leader and spokesperson for climate change, Chlöe Swarbrick.
'I called it a demonstrable lie when the Prime Minister told Parliament in December 2023 that he wasn't weakening actions on climate - while he was actively weakening actions on climate. It was and remains a demonstrable lie. This is the first leg of the legal case.
'The Luxon Government's second Emissions Reduction Plan relies on unproven, economically unfeasible technologies and plastering our country in pine trees. This is the second leg of the legal case.
'Christopher Luxon has spent the better part of two years telling the country everything is fine while he dismantles effective climate policy, gives handouts to the fossil fuel sector and platforms lobbyist's pseudoscience on agricultural emissions. This would be a meme - a joke - if it wasn't so serious.
'The Greens have shown we can reduce climate-changing emissions five times faster than the Government's 'plan,' while reducing the cost of living and improving our quality of life.
'New Zealanders deserve so much better than this Government taking them for chumps,' says Chlöe Swarbrick.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Supreme Court gives green light to riverbeds' inclusion in Māori customary marine title orders
Photo: Getty Images / Hagen Hopkins The Supreme Court has found riverbeds can be included in Māori customary marine title orders - if other legal tests are meet. The court released its second judgement today on claims to customary rights in the eastern Bay of Plenty. The first, which was released in December 2024, overturned a previous Court of Appeal decision which made it easier for Māori to gain customary title. This second judgement resolves the remaining issues on seven separate appeals - which included the issue of riverbeds. It comes as the government forges ahead with plans to amend the law to make it harder for Māori to win customary title . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.


Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
RMA Reforms To Deliver Jobs And Growth
Minister for RMA Reform The Government's second RMA Amendment Bill has passed into law, bringing in sweeping changes to many of the handbrakes on New Zealanders' lives, helping to drive economic growth, and laying the groundwork for job creation,' RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. 'The Resource Management Act (RMA) has been holding New Zealand back for decades. It has let successive governments and councils say 'no' to progress, 'no' to development, and 'no' to building the houses, infrastructure, clean energy and other important projects that New Zealanders need to get ahead,' Mr Bishop says. 'Our full replacement for the RMA will be introduced to Parliament this year, be passed into law next year, and be in effect by 2027- but in the meantime, through this Amendment Bill, we're making it quicker and simpler to consent renewable energy, boost housing supply, and reduce red tape for the primary sector. 'The Bill contains five broad packages of changes which will remove roadblocks and cut red tape holding back progress for: Infrastructure and renewable energy Housing, including a streamlined process for removing heritage protections Farming and the primary sector Emergency and natural hazards package Resource Management system improvements 'We also added a new provision which requires Auckland Council to allow even greater housing and development around key stations benefitting from City Rail Link investment, to ensure Aucklanders reap the full benefits of this transformational investment into the city. 'We added changes to ensure a more cost-effective transition between the current RMA and the upcoming new planning system by putting a stop to councils making RMA plan or policy statement changes until the new system is in place in 2027. There will be some exemptions for important work that aligns with Government priorities, or for activities such as managing natural hazards. 'Alongside this change, we added a new a new regulation making power that will allow the responsible Minister to recommend changes or even removal of parts of council RMA plans and policy statements that are proven to be holding back economic growth, development, or job creation. 'This week we also took urgent action to prevent what could have amounted to a 'stop work' notice for thousands of New Zealand farmers, by further amending the Bill to broaden what water discharges can be allowed as a permitted activity. 'And, to the great excitement of countless Wellingtonians, we added a provision that removes heritage protections from the unsafe and derelict Gordon Wilson Flats in Wellington, clearing the way for the flats to be demolished so that new student accommodation can be built.' 'This legislation is part of our wider three-phase RMA reform programme. In Phase One, before Christmas last year, we repealed the previous government's overly complex RMA changes. 'Phase Two is now well underway, with our Fast-track one-stop shop up and running, the biggest package of national direction changes in New Zealand's history being worked through with decisions due before the end of this year, and this second Amendment Bill delivering meaningful improvements. 'Phase Three will see the complete replacement of the RMA with two new laws that better reflect the importance of private property rights. The new planning system legislation will be introduced to Parliament before the end of this year, pass into law next year, and be in effect by 2027.' The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill will be enacted the day after it receives royal assent, which is expected in the coming days. Fact sheet for a summary of changes to be enacted through the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill here.


Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
ACT Speeds Up Consents To Keep The Lights On And Costs Down
ACT MP and Energy spokesperson Simon Court is welcoming the passage of the Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill into law. 'ACT campaigned to end the ban on oil and gas exploration and to use New Zealand's Crown minerals – including oil, gas, and coal – to keep our lights on and our economy moving,' Court said. 'We also identified that the RMA made it virtually impossible to consent thermal electricity generation, even when it was critical for energy security. 'From today, gas and coal-fired power stations have the same one-year priority consenting pathway as wind and solar projects. That means generators renewing or seeking new consents for thermal plants won't be bogged down in years of red tape. The race to net zero has made one thing clear – without reliable thermal backup, there's a limit to how much renewable energy the grid can handle. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine, New Zealanders still expect to heat their homes, run factories, and keep the lights on. ACT is making sure they can. 'Experience here and in Australia shows that as more wind and solar comes online, the need for reliable backup grows, too. These reforms make it faster to consent that firming generation so homes and businesses can count on a secure power supply.' ACT is also welcoming the requirement for specified energy or wood processing consents to be decided within a year, with extensions allowed, but never exceeding two years in total. "We're cutting years off the consenting process and removing uncertainty for major energy projects. That's good news for the construction sector and especially ordinary New Zealanders who pay the compliance costs," says Mr Court. 'By speeding up projects and cutting red tape, ACT is helping to keep power prices and building costs under control.'