New Zealand is on the verge of becoming the first country to change its laws to bar private citizens and organizations from suing polluters for contributing to climate change.
Parliament gave final consent to the legislation Tuesday, and it will become law following formal approval from the head of the state, which is expected within a week.
New Zealand’s move comes as U.S. Republicans push to shield oil and gas companies from being held financially responsible for the burning of their products. Lawmakers introduced federal legislation this spring, and several GOP-led states have passed laws to bar climate lawsuits. The U.S. Supreme Court will open its fall term in October by hearing a case that could wipe out the litigation.
New Zealand’s law aims to short-circuit Smith v. Fonterra, a 2020 lawsuit that alleges emissions from six companies in the agriculture and energy sectors have worsened climate change. The country’s High Court is scheduled to hear the case brought by Mãori climate activist Mike Smith in 2027.
