Legal Topic:
Climate change
Geographic relevance:
New Zealand
Language:
English
Data type:
Legal citations
About this resource:
A student from New Zealand challenged the government’s decision not to change their 2050 GHG emissions reduction target after the release of the IPCC’s AR5 report, which stated that tougher targets were needed to avoid dangerous climate change.
The court ruled that an objective of New Zealand’s Climate Change Response Act 2002 is for New Zealand to meet its international obligations under the UNFCCC and take mitigation measures to avoid dangerous climate change. It was contrary to this objective for the government not to review its 2050 target after the release of new IPCC science that required stronger action. However, because the new government had changed its policy shortly before the case was heard, no order from the court was needed and the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed.
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