New Zealand’s Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Act became law on 24 August 2026. The Act is the first national law to comprehensively rule out civil liability for activities that cause harm by contributing to climate change. In this post, I describe the Act, its political context, and lessons that climate lawyers might learn. I argue that the stagnating political salience of climate change presents significant challenges for climate lawyers, who must consider the viability of their claims in both courts and the political process. In the New Zealand case, climate advocates faced challenges in maintaining political attention and control over the narrative in the face of powerful industry opposition, a determined government, and arguments in favour of exclusive parliamentary control … (more)
[Sam Bookman, Verfassungsblog, 28 August 2026]
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