New Zealand Legislates Away Climate Tort: Smith v Fonterra and the Global Backlash Against Climate Litigation

AI justification

Legislation removing corporate climate liability undermines justice, climate action, and human rights protections. | The enactment of the Liability Act represents a significant regression in climate justice, removing a critical tool for holding corporations accountable for environmental harm. While framed as a response to legal uncertainty, the legislation undermines access to justice (SDG 16) and weakens climate action (SDG 13) by shielding polluters from liability. The broader signal it sends