The Chairperson of the Justice Committee is calling for
submissions on the Climate Change Response (Tort Liability)
Amendment Bill. Submissions close at 9:00am on
Monday, 13 July 2026.
The bill seeks to
confirm that the role of developing, setting, and
implementing regulatory policy regarding greenhouse gas
emissions sits with the Executive and the Legislature. It
would do so by amending the Climate Change Response Act 2002
to create a statutory bar on tort liability for
emissions-related climate change effects. The bar would
apply so that no person (including the Crown) could be found
liable in tort for emissions-related climate change
effects.
This bill responds to the pending trial of
the claim in Smith v Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd
[2024] NZSC 5, [2024] 1 NZLR 134.
Tell the Justice
Committee what you think
Make
a submission on the bill by midnight on Monday, 13 July
2026.
For more details about the bill:
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