Revealed: Billion-dollar trade partners worried about NZ’s climate backdowns
The Government has insisted that its rollback of climate change pledges, and funding for gas companies, won’t impact free trade deals, which rely on New Zealand tackling climate change. But foreign governments are not so sure.
Stuff can reveal that New Zealand’s trading partners have taken notice, and either have, or are planning to, raise direct concerns with our Government.
These trade deals, with the United Kingdom, European Union and other nations are worth billions of dollars to Kiwi exporters. Some of the deals also provide avenues for New Zealand to face sanctions if it fails to meet its climate change obligations.
While no trade partner has formally applied to sanction New Zealand, they have taken note of recent changes in Government policy. And the United Kingdom has, according to three of its ministers, asked New Zealand to explain its resumption of oil and gas exploration, and funding for gas companies.
Stuff understands the European Commission has also noted the recent changes to New Zealand’s climate policies.
We beg our trading partners – punish us for our climate sins because Big Dairy have totally captured the Political Class and refuse pint blank to do anything other than more cows.
It’s time to dump bi-partisanship and allow the Dairy Industry to get smashed, especially since Fonterra sold out their social contract with Kiwis.
Labour foolishly (enabled by James Shaw) tried to cut deals with Farmers and Farmers turned and shat in our face!
Dark money from the agricultural industry soaks into the astro-turf Taxpayer’s Union stable of clients and enables Groundswell to stop any environmental improvements.
National disgracefully appointed a Dairy Industry Stooge as the Chief Scientist while bring back the 100% Pure greenwash tourism campaign!
Just consider the manner in which Corporate Dairy have seized control of NZ’s political right…
The Climate Change Commission recommends methane cuts of 35-47%. However, under pressure from lobby groups like Federated Farmers – whose ex-President Andrew Hoggard is now an ACT Party MP – the Government established a separate panel to review the methane target in line with this controversial tool. That panel landed on a much weaker methane target.
…this total policy capture by polluter interests is the reason we are being attacked on the global stage by International Climate Scientists…
Scientists accuse New Zealand and Ireland of trying to cover up livestock emissions
Leading climate scientists have accused politicians in New Zealand and Ireland of using an “accounting trick” to back their sheep and cattle industries, warning their support for methane-emitting livestock could undermine global efforts to fight climate change. In an open letter shared with the Financial Times, 26 climate scientists from around the world warned that New Zealand’s proposed new methane targets risk setting a dangerous precedent.
…that’s right!
The Corporate Dairy industry has spent millions donating to National and putting dark money into Right Wing astroturf organisations to shut down any meaningful climate emissions targets that the rest of the world has noticed the policy corruption and are now calling us out.
We are being attacked internationally for being a climate criminal all because National refuse to stand up to their Corporate Dairy interests.
The Carbon Capture ‘technology’ that National have banked all our emission offsets on doesn’t work…
Carbon capture: Pivotal project for cutting greenhouse gas emissions looks shaky
A critical part of the government’s plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions over the next five years appears to have fallen over.
…and in the last budget National cut 50% to climate finance, barely any cuts to emissions, all while slashing foreign aid for our Pacific brothers and sisters by cutting climate aid by $100m.
This Government is a Climate Denial Government who are refusing to do anything about the coming adaptation because they are paid by the polluters.
A cow shits the same as 14 humans, we have 10 million cows, that’s the equivalent of 140million humans pissing and shitting into our rivers!
We must brutally take the Framing Industry to court for their environmental crimes, which is exactly what happened last month…
Climate Legal Action Necessary Response To Govt Inaction – NZCTU
The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes the legal action taken against the Minister of Climate Change by a coalition of legal experts as an important step in ensuring that Aotearoa meets its climate action obligations.
“We strongly support legal action to ensure that the Government is held to account for its legal obligations under the Climate Change Response Act,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.
“The union movement is deeply concerned by the Emissions Reduction Plan 2026-2030, which contains no significant policies to reduce emissions and will fail to get New Zealand meaningfully closer to our 2050 net-zero commitment.
“The actions – or lack of them – by this Government on climate change are the actions of climate deniers, not responsible leaders.
“Workers and communities need real political leadership that combats global emissions and invests in creating a just transition for industries and workers. We need leadership that develops and upholds long term consensus, not more U-turns.
“Instead, we have a government that cancelled 35 climate policies without consulting the public first, as required by law. Robust public engagement is essential.
“Climate policy is yet another area where this Government is prioritising corporate interests over democratic accountability and the interests of working people.
“Evidence is clear that a near-total focus on tree planting through vast pine forests is not a sufficient response – we must reduce emissions at source.
“Alongside the weak emissions budget, in Budget 2025 we saw a total abdication of responsibility on climate change and ensuring a Just Transition for working people in an increasingly volatile world.
“The NZCTU supports bold climate action to reduce emissions, adapt to the changing climate, and transition to a zero emissions economy that provides full employment for workers,” said Wagstaff.
…we must forget negotiating with them and use the law to force them to change their polluter ways.
If you are not incandescent with rage, you are not paying attention..
This Government is actively helping the planet burn now and you allowed that because you were angry at Jacinda.
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