New Zealand’s government plans to block private citizens and organizations from suing companies for contributing to climate change.
The proposal comes as Republicans in the U.S. push to shield oil and gas companies from being held liable for the burning of their products. Lawmakers introduced federal legislation last month, while several GOP-led states have passed laws to bar climate lawsuits.
New Zealand Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith announced Tuesday that his country will revise the 2002 Climate Change Response Act to prevent courts from finding liability for climate change damage in both current and future proceedings. The change is likely to be approved by Parliament, as the center-right ruling coalition holds a majority of seats.
In a statement Tuesday, Goldsmith said that civil claims against six major businesses for greenhouse gas emissions are “creating uncertainty in business confidence and investment that the government must address.”
