LCANZI Newsletter - October 2023

Kia ora koutou,

We hope this email finds you well, please see below an update from the last month including a summary of our successful ETS judicial review and our regular Executive Director update.


Executive Director update

Over the past month, we have been busy developing LCANZI’s first three-year strategic plan, and helping develop LCANZI’s litigation and advocacy strategy for 2024.

I have been having great discussions with our Board and others working in the climate advocacy space as we consider how LCANZI can make the biggest impact moving forward. With the results of the general election pointing strongly towards a new government, LCANZI’s mahi is more important than ever. Overseas we are already witnessing a growing backlash against pro-climate policies – and we don’t want to see that in NZ. We will be paying close attention to the new Government’s policy announcements and proposed agenda to assess whether they comply with NZ’s climate commitments.

I return to Aotearoa at the beginning of November, at which point I will start working full-time for LCANZI. We hope to finalise our strategy in the coming weeks and will share this with our members. If you would like to contribute and/or have feedback for us, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I will look at holding a webinar in November to meet with members and discuss our new strategy.


ETS Judicial Review summary

For those of you that weren’t able to attend our AGM in August, LCANZI Committee member James Every-Palmer KC gave his insights on our successful judicial review of the ETS settings. We have clipped James’ presentation which you can view here or on our webinars page.

You can read more about this judicial review here.


International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change

LCANZI is meeting with MFAT to discuss New Zealand’s submission to the International Court of Justice on its Advisory Opinion in respect of climate change. After months of trying to engage with MFAT on this issue, MFAT has agreed to involve LCANZI moving forward and hear LCANZI's views. The forthcoming Advisory Opinion is the result of advocacy efforts by grassroots youth groups in Vanuatu, whose proposed resolution was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly on 29 March 2023. It asks the ICJ to clarify states’ obligations under international law in respect of climate change. We will know more about what LCANZI’s involvement will be soon. LCANZI’s International Issues subcommittee, led by Bjorn-Oliver, is leading this work – feel free to reach out to him if you are interested in being involved.


Kaipara District Council’s decision to stop development of Kaipara’s climate policy

LCANZI is engaging with the Kaipara District Council, following their decision on 27 September 2023 requesting that the Chief Executive “cancels the Council’s emission accounting contract and stops development of Kaipara’s climate policy”. The Chair of LCANZI’s Local Government subcommittee, Grant Hewison, has sent a letter to the Council and spoken at the Kaipara District Council’s Public Forum, highlighting issues with the decision – being inconsistent with the Council’s Long Term Plan, Annual Plan, Significance and Engagement Policy, and ss 76-81 of the Local Government Act 2002. We will continue engaging with the Council and will update members accordingly.


‘Connect me’ members list

Last month we launched our ‘connect me’ members list for the people that wanted to be able to contact other LCANZI members. If you would like to be added to this list or if you opted in and didn’t receive the link please email admin@lawyersforclimateaction.nz. We’re also open to any feedback on ways this service would work better!


Ngā mihi maioha for your support and we will update you again soon.

LCANZI Committee

LCANZI