Climate Change

nature and climate

Green Party calls on Parliament to get on with solar loans before election

With Labour today announcing their support for a version of the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, the Green Party is calling on Parliament to pass legislation to make it happen before the House rises for election 2026."Parliament can lower New Zealanders' power bills and reduce emissions before the election kicks off. Now both the red team and the blue team have announced their support for the Ratepayer Assistance scheme, there's no reason we can't progress on a cross-partisan agreement to do this...

Posted at July 08, 2026 11:40 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

Treasury confirms $5 billion bill for Luxon's climate inaction

Treasury has put a price tag on Luxon's Government's climate inaction, with new analysis showing it could cost up to $5 billion to buy the offshore carbon credits needed to meet New Zealand's 2030 climate target.“Every time Christopher Luxon has cut climate action here at home, he has increased the bill we need to pay other countries to reduce their emissions,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “The Government keeps saying they will meet the Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement....

Posted at June 11, 2026 4:09 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Budget 2026 confirms Luxon’s climate ‘plan’ is a trashfire

Budget 2026 confirms the Government has no plan to meet our commitment under the Paris Climate Agreement, at a cost that previously Treasury calculated as up to $23 billion due by 2030. "New Zealanders have experienced 21 States of Emergency this year, which even the Prime Minister has acknowledged are inflamed by climate change. Yet, his Government continues to pour fossil fuels on the fire," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “We have all known for years that meeting the Paris Agreement, covering 2021 to 2030, will require offshore mitigation. Every bit of domestic action reduced increases the cost...

Posted at May 28, 2026 2:36 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Luxon quietly borrows $1.4 billion more to hide climate failure

The Green Party has revealed Luxon's failed climate policies have created a $1.4 billion fiscal hole, after the Government's retreat on climate caused the carbon auctions to collapse and the cash it was banking on never arrived.“Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon lecture New Zealanders about fiscal responsibility and the dangers of debt while actively tanking climate policy, costing us all at least $1.4billion more in debt,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “This fiscal hole is entirely self-inflicted, with carbon...

Posted at May 27, 2026 12:56 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

democracy and international relations

Luxon’s Government found breaching trade agreements again

Today’s report from Lawyers for Climate Action shows that Luxon’s handouts to fossil fuel companies likely breach New Zealand’s trade agreement with the United Kingdom, undermining our international reputation and trade relationships."A business wouldn’t get away with the spin and breaches of agreement Luxon’s Government does," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  "The findings that this Government’s subsidisation of fossil fuel corporations likely breaches our UK Free Trade Agreement and undermine our EU FTA build on Green-commissioned independent, expert legal advice that the Government’s fossil fuel subsidies also breach the Agreement...

Posted at May 26, 2026 10:36 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

NZ democracy at risk of corporate corruption - Green Party backs urgent inquiry

Allegations that the Prime Minister’s office withheld information about backroom lobbying by major climate polluters - ahead of legislating to prevent court action against those same corporations - must be investigated, says the Green Party.“The facts are that major polluters had a meeting with the Prime Minister and that the full extent of that meeting and the briefings provided by Fonterra and Z Energy were not disclosed, intentionally or otherwise, by the Prime Minister’s office,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe...

Posted at May 25, 2026 9:15 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Luxon protects polluters’ profits in sweeping, rushed climate change law amendment

The Government’s surprise announcement this morning to amend the Climate Change Response Act is yet another example of Luxon loosening the leash for corporate profits at the expense of our people and our planet, the Green Party says.“Luxon’s Government is using its dying breaths to unravel New Zealanders’ right to hold big polluters accountable,” says the Green Party Co-leader and Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.   “While New Zealanders are demanding affordable power bills and decent jobs, Luxon’s Government has decided to...

Posted at May 12, 2026 12:32 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Luxon missing in action as climate costs pile up

The Green Party says today's National Climate Change Risk Assessment from the Climate Change Commission confirms Luxon's failure to act on climate is driving up the cost of living for New Zealanders.“Luxon likes to talk about preparing New Zealand for a rainy day. The Commission is clear that he is refusing to invest in an umbrella,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.   “This independent, expert assessment shows that Luxon's climate adaptation 'plans' are mere window dressing.”  “The numbers are sobering: 97 per cent of...

Posted at May 07, 2026 12:42 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Luxon's Government cut flood protection spending while extreme weather worsens

This Government has cut flood protection spending by 41 per cent compared to the last Government, even as climate-change-charged extreme weather events become more frequent and severe."Luxon's Government gets up after each extreme weather event to talk about much they're spending on flood protection - spending that they've almost halved in comparison to the last Government," says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.   Documents OIA'd by the Green Party confirm Budget 2020 committed $217 million, Budget 2023 committed $122.9 million, and $647.5 million for North...

Posted at April 20, 2026 11:26 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Government’s ‘climate commitment’ mask finally comes off

In a watershed moment for climate accountability, newly released documents clearly show Luxon’s Government is comfortable knowingly breaching the Paris Agreement, signed up to by John Key 10 years ago.“For the past two years, we’ve raised alarm that the Government’s climate maths aren’t mathing. Today, we know that they’ve known that, and have been comfortable lying about it, for months,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “Months ago, Cabinet made decisions to halve our methane target, informed that doing so...

Posted at December 04, 2025 10:31 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Luxon government backtrack on climate recognised at COP30

Aotearoa New Zealand has today been recognised internationally for all the wrong reasons, presented with the ‘Fossil of the Day’ mantle at COP30 over the Government’s regression on methane targets.“Christopher Luxon’s Government continues to embarrass our country on the international stage, this time after shredding climate progress,” says Green Co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “Climate targets are not just numbers on a page. They are the scientific fundamentals necessary for life on earth as we know it. “Staying within planetary limits needs...

Posted at November 18, 2025 11:09 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Marama Davidson Mining Revocation Announcement Speech

Today, we are announcing that a Green Government will commit to revoking any consents or permits handed out under the fast-track process for coal, gold and seabed mines.These projects, if approved, will have been through a process that categorically fails to meet our standards of transparency, accountability, and environmental responsibility. We don’t believe that’s acceptable. More importantly, these types of mining are profoundly destructive. Each leaves behind polluted water, scarred landscapes, and divided communities. They extract resources from our land,...

Posted at November 17, 2025 2:57 PM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Greens pledge to revoke most destructive fast-track mining consents

Today, the Greens are announcing that a Green Government will commit to revoking any consents or permits handed out under the fast-track process for coal, Hardrock gold and seabed mining.“The fast-track process fails even the most basic standards of transparency, accountability, and environmental protection,” says Green Party Co-leader, Marama Davidson. “We can have an economy that employs people without destroying the ecological basis of our existence for the profits of the few. But, if we are serious about leaving behind...

Posted at November 17, 2025 2:12 PM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Luxon’s Government shreds climate consensus

Late last night, the Government announced some of the most significant sweeping changes in recent memory to destroy climate action.“Under the cover of night, Christopher Luxon’s Government announced their most significant destruction of climate action yet,” says Green Party Co-leader, Chlöe Swarbrick. “You cannot trust the National Party. They supported the cross-partisan Zero Carbon Act and now, in Government, are stripping the Climate Change Commission of its powers. “Christopher Luxon promised New Zealanders he would abide by our climate commitments....

Posted at November 05, 2025 9:26 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

te tiriti o waitangi

Sad day for democracy as RSB passes second reading

Despite a resounding majority of submitters opposing the Regulatory Standards Bill, Luxon’s Government has pushed it through second reading.“New Zealanders made it clear they don’t want this zombie Frankenstein of the Treaty Principles Bill. Today Christopher Luxon has chosen to ignore them,” says Green Party Co-leader, Chlöe Swarbrick. “Our country has real problems we could be fixing, but instead the Government is stroking the ACT Party’s ego by reviving and pushing through their vanity project which has failed three times...

Posted at November 04, 2025 4:37 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Govt’s Climate Adaptation plan leaves work to be done

The Government’s National Adaptation Framework, released this morning, has a way to go when it comes to clarity for communities, support, and meaningful engagement with te Tiriti.“Climate change is here now. Government’s job is to reduce emissions at the source to prevent the worst, and ensure our communities are protected, prepared and resilient,” Chlöe Swarbrick. “Today the Government has announced a basic framework for data and information sharing, which the Greens have supported since Hon. James Shaw began this Climate...

Posted at October 16, 2025 10:51 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Govt’s downgrade of methane target an accounting trick with devastating real-world consequences

Luxon’s Government halving of methane targets under the guise of “no additional warming” is a cheap accounting trick that will cost our country dearly.“Today Christopher Luxon has downgraded climate ambition, meaning a higher cost of living and ultimately far worse outcomes for the farmers he says he’s doing this for,” says the Green Party Co-leader and Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick. “Methane is a superheating gas - 80 times stronger at frying our atmosphere than carbon in the short-term. To...

Posted at October 14, 2025 9:32 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

services and systems

Govt fails to move energy system away from fossil fuels

More Government support for investment in oil, gas and LNG infrastructure is another step away from the sustainable and affordable energy network that this country needs.“Today’s underwhelming announcement does nothing to guarantee lower energy bills for struggling households and businesses,” says the Green Party Co-Leader, Marama Davidson.  “While the devil will be in the detail, these purported ‘reforms’ appear to only entrench the dominance of the gentailers and deepen our reliance on fossil fuels - a risky, expensive and increasingly...

Posted at October 01, 2025 8:47 AM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Govt’s ETS auction fails for the eighth time

Another Emissions Trading Scheme auction has failed, throwing the Government’s failure on climate into stark focus.“Ironically, the most effective climate policy under Luxon’s Government is their economic incompetence. Their decisions have seen successive ETS auctions fail, ultimately meaning units end up being cancelled,” says the Green Party Co-leader and Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick. “This Government has slashed climate policies and promised we’ll somehow meet our climate targets by relying on market mechanisms, which their own advice tells them will...

Posted at September 10, 2025 2:37 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Chlöe Swarbrick AGM Speech 2025

I want everyone to take a deep breath.I’m serious. I’ll do it with you. Hā ki roto. Hā ki waho. I’m sure this is exactly what our friends in the media think that we do at a Green Party conference. In case you missed it guys, the Morris dancing was last night. I’m joking. But back to the breath. In. Out. We’re here, together. Right now. We’re alive. There’s a lot going on in our world. Genocide. Exploitation. Harm and...

Posted at August 10, 2025 2:44 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Greens urge people to come together for change

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has rallied the party membership to get out there, get organised, and help the party build the most progressive Government Aotearoa has ever seen.“When we show up and grow our movement beyond traditional circles, we win. The people win,” Chlöe Swarbrick told the Party’s Annual General Meeting in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington today. “New Zealanders care about each other and the planet we all share.  “We build the world we deserve not in speeches, or in...

Posted at August 10, 2025 2:40 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Marama Davidson AGM Speech 2025

Ko te rākau e tupu ana, e taea te whakahoki, ki te one i tupu ake ai. Nō reira, ko tātou ko te kauri, ko te kauri ko tātou.Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.  Nearly 200 years ago, our shared ancestors landed on a promise to “take the best possible care of each other.”  To care for future generations.  And to care for the lands we live on. The promise of Tiriti justice offers us a unique opportunity to...

Posted at August 09, 2025 2:11 PM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Greens aim high for sake of people and planet

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson has set out her party's ambitions to be a leading force in the next Government at the party's Annual General Meeting in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington today. “We’re not here to just lead the opposition, we are here because we want to lead the next Government, the most progressive Government Aotearoa has seen,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.   “Real power lies with us, the people. When we come together - grounded in care for each other...

Posted at August 09, 2025 2:10 PM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Govt pours oil and gas on climate fire as ban repealed

Today, Christopher Luxon’s Government committed to higher power bills and fossil fuel dependence. This Government keeps choosing to undermine our resilience rather than transition to clean, green energy. It takes an average of 16 years to go from exploration to production of fossil fuels. The Government knows reversing the oil and gas ban won’t deliver anything in the short to medium term but ultimately means far greater emissions, and far higher costs. “Just a fortnight ago, Nelson-Tasman was hit with yet...

Posted at July 31, 2025 4:30 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

New study shows speed of Antarctic ice melt, Govt fans climate flames

As the Government pulls out of global climate commitments, a significant new report shows that sea ice around Antarctica is melting at unprecedented speed.“This is a clear and urgent signal that the climate crisis is accelerating, and a critical tipping point may have already been passed. It’s not a distant threat to think about somewhere down the line; it’s here,” says the Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson. “The Aotearoa we all deserve is entirely within our grasp. Devastatingly, this Government...

Posted at July 07, 2025 3:21 PM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Govt abandons Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance

Christopher Luxon’s Government pulling out of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance is just the latest sign they care little for the climate crisis or cost of living it’ll exacerbate, says the Green Party. “Luxon’s Government is throwing public money, oil, coal, and gas onto the climate crisis fire. Today they’ve told the world that they don’t care about a stable climate or regular peoples’ lives,” says Green Party co-leader and spokesperson for Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick.  “Yesterday, we revealed that...

Posted at June 25, 2025 10:40 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Govt’s $200mill fossil fuel handout in breach of trade agreement

Legal advice commissioned by the Green Party shows the coalition Government’s $200 million “investment” in new gas fields is a clear breach of the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS).“The National Party tell us they’re good economic managers then tank the economy; they tell us they’re committed to our climate commitments then breach those commitments,” says the Green Party Climate Change spokesperson and co-leader, Chlöe Swarbrick. “It took just six months for this Government to breach a trade...

Posted at June 24, 2025 11:25 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Government rightfully sued over illegal climate ‘plan’

Last week, world-leading climate scientists called out the Government’s approach to agricultural emissions. This week, climate lawyers have sued the Government because its Emissions Reductions Plans do not add up.“Luxon’s Government has chosen to pour oil, coal and gas on the climate crisis fire. Their climate ‘plan’ is not worth the paper it is written on. That’s why they’re being sued today,” says the Green Party’s co-leader and spokesperson for climate change, Chlöe Swarbrick.  “I called it a demonstrable lie...

Posted at June 10, 2025 2:01 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Luxon must end climate denial speculation

The Greens welcome the open letter from world-leading climate scientists to the Prime Minister, urging his Government to abandon any plan to water down climate targets.“Christopher Luxon must end any further speculation that his Government is on the climate denial bandwagon. After wasting a year playing around with the mythical ‘no additional warming’ idea, international alarm bells are ringing,” says Green Party co-leader and Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick. “The Climate Change Commission is clear that any entertainment of ‘no...

Posted at June 03, 2025 1:04 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Government pours gas on the climate crisis fire

Budget 2025 has put our climate targets in serious jeopardy, says the Green Party. “Today the Government has done even worse than deny or delay climate action - they’ve actively chosen to pour gas on the fire,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate, Chlöe Swarbrick.  “The Government is setting $200 million of our public money on fire to support fossil fuel executives' profit, handing a lifeline to a sunset industry, instead of investing in real, resilient, renewable energy. “They...

Posted at May 22, 2025 4:27 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Member’s Bill an opportunity for climate action

A Member’s Bill in the name of Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter which aims to stop coal mining, the Crown Minerals (Prohibition of Mining) Amendment Bill, has been pulled from Parliament’s ‘biscuit tin’ today.“Christopher Luxon can put his money where his mouth is when it comes to the environment by backing this Bill,” says Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter. “My Bill would prevent any new coal mines from being opened while stopping any old ones being expanded. Coal...

Posted at April 10, 2025 12:53 PM by Julie Anne Genter

nature and climate

Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility

The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action.  “Yesterday, the acting Prime Minister admitted that the Government’s climate commitments were the bare minimum. Worse still, today’s ETS auction failure shows that even the market the Government is relying on doesn’t trust them to deliver,” says the Green Party’s co-leader and Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick. “Luxon’s Government has put almost all of their climate eggs in the basket of...

Posted at March 19, 2025 12:19 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Where’s the “culture of yes” on climate ambition?

The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security.“This new NDC is the closest thing the Government could do to breaking the Paris Agreement and walking away from our international climate commitments without actually doing it,” says the Green Party Co-Leader and Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.  “The expert, independent Climate Change Commission demonstrated how reductions of over...

Posted at January 31, 2025 8:15 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Aotearoa must step up as Trump plays with climate fire

The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again.“Every human being, from Aotearoa to the United States of America, lives on the same planet,” says Green Co-leader and Climate Spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick. “Every action, of any Government, that increases climate changing emissions increases the frequency and severity of catastrophes like the Los Angeles fires...

Posted at January 21, 2025 12:13 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction

New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets.  “The Government’s plan relies on fairytale technologies and covering the equivalent of Ireland in pine trees. Christopher Luxon is setting us up to fail and hoping you don’t read the fineprint,” says Green Party co-leader and spokesperson for Climate Change Chlöe Swarbrick. “Confronting the climate crisis...

Posted at December 13, 2024 11:16 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan

Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. “Our plan is for an Aotearoa that puts people and planet first,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “Grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, He Ara Anamata shows how we can achieve robust, systemic change that cuts pollution at the source, working with nature every step of the way.  “Anthropogenic climate change has been created by an unsustainable, insatiable economic system....

Posted at December 08, 2024 1:53 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Government smokescreen to downgrade climate ambition

Today the ACT-National Coalition Agreement pet project’s findings on “no additional warming” were released.“Whether it’s climate action or child poverty, Christopher Luxon committed at the election, then quietly tried to change the targets and reduce action while in Government,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson on Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick.  “There’s a reason climate scientists balked when the Government announced it would review agricultural emissions: it was an obvious smokescreen to lower climate ambition, as the report and Ministerial comments...

Posted at December 04, 2024 4:56 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

You can’t bank on pine trees in a climate crisis

Today’s Government announcement to limit farm forestry conversions tinkers around the edges, instead of focusing on the real problem and stopping pollution at the source.“Banking on pine trees to cut pollution is barely a band-aid on a gas leak,” says Green Party Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick. “The Government’s changes are an acknowledgement that there’s a problem in converting productive, food-growing land into biodiversity-squashing pine plantations, but they stop far short of fixing that problem. “Polluters will still be allowed...

Posted at December 04, 2024 1:33 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Prime Minister shirks responsibility on global climate commitment

In an interview with Q&A this morning, the Prime Minister refused to say whether he would commit to meeting the Paris Agreement, the international climate agreement which commits all countries to act locally to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.“Climate commitments aren’t numbers on a page to be toyed with at political whim. They’re hard scientific limits, requiring each country to do our bit for a liveable planet,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate Change Chlöe Swarbrick. “This...

Posted at December 01, 2024 12:15 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS

The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. “While our Climate Minister is on the other side of the world telling the UN climate conference about the need to act, at home, his Government is ramming through law to delay and deny that very action,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick, who is currently attending COP29.  “The world isn’t stupid - and that’s...

Posted at November 21, 2024 5:56 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

International Energy Agency issues wake-up call on climate action

Today’s report from the International Energy Agency highlights how far this Government’s actions are dragging us backwards in the fight against climate change. “Luxon’s decision to pour fossil fuel on the climate crisis fire actively undermines not only energy security and resilience, but a climate-safe future,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate Change Chlöe Swarbrick.  “Today the International Energy Agency issued its annual energy outlook with the key message: energy security and climate action are inextricably linked.  “The IEA...

Posted at October 17, 2024 10:27 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Work to do on climate adaptation

The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into climate adaptation is something that must be built on for an enduring framework to manage climate risk.“Climate change is here. We must both mitigate further climate changing emissions and we must adapt. Good policy does both,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick.  “The Finance and Expenditure Committee inquiry into climate adaptation was the latest step in the opportunity to build an enduring framework that supports communities to plan...

Posted at October 01, 2024 8:03 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Green Government will revoke oil and gas permits

The Green Party vows to reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke permits when it returns to government following the coalition’s introduction of legislation to reopen offshore oil and gas exploration this afternoon. “A Green Government will reinstate the oil and gas ban and revoke any permits granted under the current fossil fuel-obsessed regime,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson for Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick. “We can have an economy that supports people and the planet, instead of exploiting both....

Posted at September 24, 2024 3:54 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Govt must act to avoid the worst of NIWA’s climate projections

New climate projections from NIWA underscore how urgently climate action is needed.“A future of flood and drought painted by NIWA is the reality of an unabated climate crisis,” says Green Party Co-leader and spokesperson for Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick.   “These projections show us that climate delay is the new denial, and emphasise how this Government’s plan to increase emissions will cost us all dearly. “We can have an economy that works for people and planet, instead of exploiting both. That...

Posted at September 18, 2024 3:14 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Government back off track on climate action

Today’s Draft Emissions Reduction Plan shows the Government couldn’t care less about a liveable climate for all.“The Government is pouring oil, coal and gas on the climate crisis fire. Today’s draft Emissions Reduction Plan lays bare that they have no plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050,” says Green Party co-leader and spokesperson for Climate Change Chlöe Swarbrick.  “In a nutshell, their ‘plan’ means largely giving up on stopping pollution at the source and a whole lot of wishful thinking....

Posted at July 17, 2024 8:07 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Failure of climate auction highlights government inaction

The lack of bids at today’s ETS auction is a sad indictment on this Government's staggering indifference to the climate crisis and their lack of a plan. “The market clearly lacks confidence in this Government, and is responding to the reality of the coalition’s inaction over their rhetoric,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “This morning the Minister of Finance seemed caught unaware about how the Emissions Trading Scheme works, and this afternoon, that market showed it has no confidence in...

Posted at June 19, 2024 2:29 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Budget cuts chances of liveable future

Scrutiny of Budget 24 and advice to the Minister of Finance shows the Government is knowingly increasing emissions and shredding climate action.“The Government's Budget comes at a tremendous cost to our climate. People and planet pay the price,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “For the first time, we have it in black in white that the Government knew their budget decisions would increase emissions – and that’s only for the initiatives they decided to do the analysis on. “The...

Posted at June 19, 2024 1:02 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Farmers among first and worst hit by climate change

The Government has once again kicked the climate action can down the road by removing agricultural emissions from the Emissions Trading Scheme. "Climate delay is the new denial. Today’s announcement from the Government that it will shred progress on agricultural emissions pricing is just the latest episode of disregard for our climate and environment,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “The Climate Minister’s sheepish statement that we’ll still somehow meet climate change commitments is a far cry from reality. He and...

Posted at June 11, 2024 12:10 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Government to add oil and gas to climate fire

The Government deciding to lift the oil and gas ban in the middle of a climate crisis is a severe step backwards that will have serious consequences for our future. “The Government is tipping oil and gas onto the climate crisis fire, lining the pockets of fossil fuel companies, while everyone else will pick up the bill,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “Today’s announcement is the latest episode of this Government putting profit before people and planet.  “Iwi Māori and...

Posted at June 09, 2024 11:00 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Coalition of cowards slashes investment in climate action

Actions speak louder than words and this Government's attack on the climate will ripple through generations, says the Green Party. “The other day, Government parties said, ‘Drill, baby, drill,’ and today, they may as well have said, ‘burn, baby, burn’,” says Green Party co-leader and climate spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.  “This Government has slashed and burned almost all climate and environmentally minded policy whilst pouring coal, oil and gas over the roaring climate crisis fire. Today’s Budget has seen funding from almost...

Posted at May 30, 2024 2:45 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Coalition of coal will prove catastrophic for climate

The Government’s plans to ramp up coal mining in the heat of a climate crisis will see our chances of a liveable future melt away.“This Government is gaslighting New Zealanders with extra oil, coal and gas. There is no future in burning our planet,” says Green Party co-leader and spokesperson for Climate Change Chlöe Swarbrick.  “The science is crystal clear. If we want to prevent a future filled with climate catastrophe and extreme weather, fossil fuels need to stay in...

Posted at May 23, 2024 5:20 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Greens welcome cross-party approach to climate adaptation

The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry.“Just over a year ago our North Island was hammered by deadly and devastating climate-change charged weather events. Many are still grappling with the clean-up, insurance issues and infrastructure gaps. These are the consequences of a warming planet and we must do everything we can to both mitigate climate changing...

Posted at May 10, 2024 5:00 AM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Fast-track submissions period must be extended

The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. "Smoke, mirrors and shadows continue to shroud the Government’s fast-track legislation,” says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson.  “It is outrageous for Minister Bishop to release the list of stakeholders invited to participate in the fast-track process only hours before public submissions close and after...

Posted at April 19, 2024 4:26 PM by Marama Davidson

nature and climate

Government throws coal on the climate crisis fire

The Government’s policy announced today to ease consenting for coal mining will have a lasting impact across generations. “Today the Government has announced the latest frontier in its relentless assault on our planet, easing the path for more climate-heating coal mining,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “The window of opportunity to respond to the climate emergency is quickly closing. The International Energy Agency has made it crystal clear that if we want to limit global warming within the 1.5 degrees...

Posted at April 16, 2024 12:00 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

CCC issues warning over further climate delay

Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements.“We once were proud to punch above our weight on the world stage but today’s draft advice from the Climate Change Commission tells us there’s a lot of work to do if we hope to live up to that legacy,” says Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.  “Science has evolved on the inconvenient non-negotiables...

Posted at April 08, 2024 6:51 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

nature and climate

Methane target review is dangerous duplication

The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said.“Delay is the new denial when it comes to climate change,” said Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. “There is already a legally required, independent review of emissions reduction targets this year - which two of the three governing parties voted for. Best case, this newly announced review is a shining example...

Posted at April 06, 2024 2:18 PM by Chlöe Swarbrick

services and systems

Govt slams on the brakes of climate action

The scrapping of the Clean Car Discount is an act of climate vandalism - and the Green Party is calling on the Government to release all the advice it received before making this move.  “I am so proud of what we have achieved with the Clean Car Discount over the last 18 months. It breaks my heart that this government is slamming on the brakes of climate action,” says the Green Party’s transport spokesperson, Julie Anne Genter.  “The Clean Car Discount...

Posted at December 14, 2023 6:48 PM by Julie Anne Genter

nature and climate

Luxon’s free pass to the fossil fuel industry needs to be stopped

Chris Luxon is giving big oil and gas corporations a free pass at a time when countries all over the world agree to transition away from fossil fuels.“This Government is giving the global fossil fuel industry a free pass and we urgently need to stop it happening,” says co-leader of the Green Party, Marama Davidson.  “World leaders have finally agreed that we must move away from fossil fuels if we are to have a liveable future. Yet here in Aotearoa,...

Posted at December 14, 2023 1:41 PM by Marama Davidson