Greenpeace says that a retrospective law change, which
makes it illegal to sue climate polluters over the damages
caused by climate change, is yet more evidence of corporate
capture within the Coalition Government.
The Climate
Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill, which
passed its third reading in Parliament yesterday, prohibits
New Zealanders from suing businesses over the impacts of
their climate pollution. The law was primarily designed to
prevent the Smith v Fonterra case spearheaded by Māori
activist Mike Smith.
Greenpeace Programme Director
Niamh O’Flynn says, “The Coalition Government passing this
Bill at the bidding of corporations shows the sinister side
of the influence of polluters on politics. Instead of
standing for the interests of New Zealanders, this
Government has stepped in to prevent some of New Zealand’s
worst polluters from being held accountable for their
climate destruction.”
“This abuse of power – a law
change made at the request of Fonterra and Z Energy – is yet
more evidence that this Government is little more than a
puppet for polluting corporations and industries.
“Big
polluters – like Fonterra and the oil and gas industry – are
profiting from the climate crisis, but the rest of us are
paying the price, from skyrocketing insurance premiums to
the enormous cost of rebuilding roads, bridges and other
infrastructure after climate disasters.”
In May, it
was revealed that secret lobbying by Fonterra and Z Energy –
including a briefing sent to the personal email of the Prime
Minister’s Chief Policy Advisor – had led to the creation
of the Bill. O’Flynn says this is just one example in a
broader pattern.
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“This Government has allowed
corporate polluters to write the policy on everything from
fresh water to climate change. Now, they’re attempting to
take away our avenues to challenge those polluters. But we
will continue to resist.
“In 2013, the National
Government passed the Anadarko Amendment at the bidding of
international oil giants, to prevent New Zealanders from
confronting climate villains. Despite this, our movement
(with Mike at the forefront) continued to kick them out
one-by-one. Mike’s case may be on ice, but he and the
thousands of New Zealanders taking action for climate change
will keep fighting this war on nature.
“If this
Government thinks that by preventing civil lawsuits against
polluters, they’re stopping us from taking action, then
they’ve got another thing coming. We will continue to
fight for our kids’ and grandkids’
future.”
