Simon Watts Photo: RNZA landmark legal case that argues the government's plan to tackle climate change is unlawful and risky will go ahead today. Lawyers for Climate Action and the Environmental Law Initiative (ELI) are jointly taking the case against Climate Change Minister Simon Watts. Under New Zealand's climate laws, the government must produce five-yearly emissions reductions plans, which set out how the country will meet its domestic climate targets. 'Phenomenal' reliance on pine plantingThe latest emissions reduction plan, which kicked in at the start of this year, was not really an emissions reduction plan at all, Prestidge-Oldfield said. "[There have been] two significant cases in the UK where environmental interests have successfully challenged the UK government's emissions reduction plans, or their equivalent," Rive said.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 15, 2026 19:56 UTC