The Government has today announced a new NDC for our 2030 net emissions to be 50 percent below 2005 gross emissions. A 50 percent reduction sounds good, and it is a significant improvement on our current NDC. But it is not as good as it sounds.

Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc. (LCANZI) says the discussion document on the government’s emissions reduction plan (ERP), published today for consultation, proposes only modest emissions reductions that fall far short of New Zealand’s obligations under the Paris Agreement and is lacking in specifics about how some of those emissions reductions will actually be achieved.

On 17 September 2021 LCANZI members James Every-Palmer QC, Emma Geard, Jeremy Bell-Connell and Ollie Belton made two submissions on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

On 23 August 2021 LCANZI wrote to the Nelson City Council on behalf of Zero Carbon Nelson Tasman expressing concerns about the legality of the Council’s recent decision to develop a new Library on a site near the Maitai River.

In light of the Level 4 lockdown, we have to postpone our Christchurch film fundraiser indefinitely. Once we are back to Level 1, we will look to re-schedule the event.

Last week we had a case management conference for our judicial review proceedings of the Climate Change Commission's advice.

2degrees are holding a film festival at their Christchurch office to promote wellness and enjoying the great outdoors. They have kindly offered for donations from tickets to go to LCANZI.

A coalition of climate and transport advocacy groups has filed Court proceedings against Auckland Transport and Auckland Council in relation to a recently adopted land transport plan that fails to provide for any meaningful reduction in carbon emissions.

The Advertising Standards Complaints Board has upheld a complaint by Lawyers for Climate Action NZ about an advertising campaign by Firstgas which contained greenwashing and misleading statements about “zero carbon gas”. The Board has ordered the adverts to be withdrawn.

The Annual General Meeting of Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc will be held at 1pm on Monday 9 August 2021.

On Wednesday 14 July at 4-5.30pm our president, Jenny Cooper QC, and member, Zoe Brentnall will be speaking about climate litigation at Koi Tū.

Today LCANZI filed High Court proceedings seeking judicial review of the Climate Change Commission’s advice to to the Minister for Climate Change.

The grounds for the action are that the Commission’s advice does not comply with the Climate Change Response Act or with Aotearoa New Zealand’s obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Last week, LCANZI wrote to the Minister for Climate Change, Hon James Shaw, regarding a significant error in the Climate Change Commission’s analysis on the updated NDC.

Tomorrow, Lloyd Kavanagh and Isabelle Smith will be appearing on behalf of LCANZI before the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee in support of LCANZI's submission on the climate-related disclosures regime.

Lawyers for Climate Action NZ (LCANZI) is deeply disappointed that the Climate Change Commission’s final advice today recommends emissions budgets to 2030 which would see Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions continuing at a level higher than is compatible with keeping global warming to 1.5C.

The Government has today announced that the Mill Road project will not be going ahead.

LCANZI has submitted to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Select Committee on the Bill that will implement the climate-related disclosures regime.

LCANZI calls on all its members to join the Bike Auckland rally at 10am on Sunday to get Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to Liberate The Lane! on the Auckland Harbour Bridge.