New Zealand Bans Climate Lawsuits Against Companies in 67-53 Vote, Sparking ‘Dark Day for Democracy’ Protests
New Zealand’s government has passed a law blocking courts from holding companies liable for climate change harm, a move critics say shields polluters and undermines democratic accountability.
The right-wing coalition government cleared the legal amendment in a final parliamentary vote on Tuesday night, with 67 votes in favor and 53 against [1]. The change came in direct response to a lawsuit filed by indigenous Maori climate activist Michael Smith, who sought to take a major company to court over climate-related damage [1]. The government defended the law as necessary to stop civil lawsuits from overriding its climate policy and to protect business confidence [1].
Under the new rules, future climate-based civil claims against businesses in New Zealand are now prohibited [1]. Opponents, including protestors, have labeled the decision a “dark day for democracy,” arguing it removes a crucial avenue for holding corporations accountable for environmental harm [1]. The law effectively ends legal recourse for citizens seeking damages related to climate impacts, leaving policy-making solely in the hands of the executive branch [1].