We are challenging the ambition of NZ’s climate targets
We are challenging the advice given by the Climate Change Commission to the Minister of Climate Change on the level of ambition in NZ’s emissions budgets and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
These are two critically important targets for New Zealand’s emissions, acting as sinking lids on available emissions into the future. Emissions budgets are five-yearly targets that act as stepping stones towards New Zealand meeting its long-term 2050 goal. And the NDC is our commitment under the Paris Agreement to achieve a 50% reduction of net emissions below our gross 2005 level by 2030.
We think that both targets are not ambitious enough, and that NZ isn’t playing its fair share in the global effort to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. At its heart, this case is about the fact New Zealand isn’t cutting its emissions fast enough - and the Commission’s advice was unlawful.
You can read all of our key documents below:
Court of Appeal Documents
Notice of Appeal for LCANZI appeal of the High Court judgment, 21 December 2022
LCANZI submissions for the Court of Appeal, 26 September 2023
LCANZI Roadmap of Submissions for the Court of Appeal, 20 November 2023
High Court Decisions
LCANZI v CCC judgment, 23 November 2022.
LCANZI reflections on the judgment, 5 December 2022.
Costs judgment, 16 March 2023.
High Court Documents:
Statement of Claim for the LCANZI judicial review of the Climate Change Commission’s advice, and our press release about the proceedings, 2 July 2021
Statement of Defence of the Climate Change Commission in response to LCANZI’s Statement of Claim, 5 August 2021
Amended Statement of Defence of the Climate Change Commission in response to LCANZI’s Amended Statement of Claim, 1 October 2021
Second Amended Statement of Claim of LCANZI in response to the latest NDC, 3 November 2021
Statement of Defence of the Minister for Climate Change in response to LCANZI’s Statement of Claim, 1 October 2021
High Court decision denying release of evidence and submissions until 28 February 2022, 22 October 2021
Evidence filed by LCANZI in support of its judicial review, contact admin@lawyersforclimateaction.nz.
Road map for interested parties summarising LCANZI’s submissions
LCANZI’s submissions in support of judicial review, for 28 February 2022 hearing
Glossary of key terms
LCANZI’s hand up regarding admissibility of evidence, 28 February 2022
LCANZI’s hand up regarding net emissions, 28 February 2022
LCANZI’s hand up regarding amendment to relief sought in judicial review, 28 February 2022
Other LCANZI material relating to the proceedings:
Webinar discussing our proposed submission on the Commission’s draft advice, 8 March 2021
Presentation from our webinar on our proposed submission on the Commission’s draft advice, 8 March 2021
Press release on the Climate Change Commission’s final advice, 9 June 2021
Press release on Second Amended Statement of Claim, 4 November 2021
Press release regarding start of hearing of judicial review, 28 February 2022
Media:
RNZ article by Eloise Gibson on our Court of Appeal hearing, 24 November 2023.
RNZ article by Hamish Cardwell about our judicial review, 2 July 2021
Newsroom article by Marc Daalder about our judicial review, 2 July 2021
Guardian article by Eva Corlett, 2 July 2021
Stuff article by Olivia Wannan, 2 July 2021
NZ Herald article by Hamish Rutherford, 2 July 2021
Oxfam press release supporting our proceeding, 2 July 2021
Newsroom article by Marc Daalder with comments from an expert about our proceeding, 6 July 2021
Spinoff article by one of our members, Prof. Andrew Geddis, 8 July 2021
Opinion piece by Paul Winton, 12 July 2021
Statement from the Climate Change Commission | He Pou Rangi about our judicial review, 2 July 2021, and further response from the Commission, 14 July 2021
Press release on the NDC budget, 31 October 2021
RNZ interview on NDC budget 1 November 2021
Guardian article, 2 November 2021
Stuff article by Robert McLachlan, 2 November 2021
Stuff article by Todd Niall about our submission on Commission’s draft advice, 23 March 2021
Newsroom article by Marc Daalder about our submission on Commission’s draft advice, 30 March 2021
Correspondence with and submissions to the Commission and Minister:
Letter to the Climate Change Commission: Our views on the Commission’s legislative role, the importance of the 1.5C target pathways, and an ambitious NDC, 13 November 2020
Letter to the Climate Change Commission: Our views on the Commission’s legal obligations on NDC advice, and the emissions budget and reduction plan, 9 December 2020
Submission to the Climate Change Commission on their draft advice, 22 March 2021
Letter to the Minister for Climate Change regarding setting the NDC, 17 June 2021