Judicial review of Climate Change Commission and Minister of Climate Change

The judicial review sought by Lawyers for Climate Action New Zealand Incorporated (LCANZI) over advice provided by the Climate Change Commission to the Government has been dismissed by the High Court.

The advice concerned the first three emission reduction budgets under the Climate Change Response Act 2002, as well as the advice relating to New Zealand’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.

The Government updated the NDC in November 2021 and LCANZI amended its claim to also seek relief against the Minister of Climate Change in respect of the updated NDC decision.

This case was heard before the High Court from 28 February to 4 March 2022 and the judgment was released on 23 November 2022.

High Court Judgment of Public Interest (PDF, 1.6 MB) [Courts of New Zealand website]

Ināia tonu nei: a low emissions future for Aotearoa [Climate Change Commission website].

Statement of claim amendment - Climate Change Commission judicial review [Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc. website].

Minister’s statement of defence to the first amended statement of claim [PDF, 183 KB].

Minister’s amended statement of defence to the second amended statement of claim [PDF, 177 KB].

Legal submissions filed on behalf of the Minister [PDF, 1.1 MB].