United Nations

Donald Trump's plan to leave Paris climate deal could hand competitors advantage in clean energy race

Friday - Experts warn US withdrawal could slow progress, boosting rivals in the global push for sustainability.

Bloomberg steps in to help fund UN climate body after Trump withdrawal

Friday - Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's philanthropy arm said on Thursday it will provide funding to help cover the U.S. contribution to the U.N. climate body's budget, filling a gap left by President Donald Trump.

"Drill, baby, drill" – local experts slam Trump's move to quit Paris Agreement

Thursday - President Donald Trump's move withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement has been greeted with criticism in Aotearoa, with experts and politicians voicing concern.

International trade law needs overhaul to address climate change: expert

Thursday - Media release | As wildfires ravage Los Angeles, oceans warm and carbon dioxide levels hit record highs, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is working through swathes of submissions regarding the legal obligations of states to address climate change and protect vulnerable communities and future generations.  

Waitangi Tribunal kicks off inquiry into climate change policy

20 Dec 24 - By Liz Kivi | The Crown has contributed to worsening the climate crisis as well as exacerbating impacts on Māori communities, a Waitangi Tribunal panel heard this week.

Will NZ walk away from the Paris Agreement?

20 Dec 24 - By Geoff Bertram | COMMENT: Unless the government can find very cheap offshore mitigation, the temptation to walk away from its Paris Agreement obligations may well be too strong to resist for a coalition government focused on fiscal austerity.

'A death sentence for our islands' - Pacific leaders respond to Australia approving new coal mines

20 Dec 24 - Media release | Despite making multiple international commitments to “transition away from fossil fuels” under both the UN General Assembly and the UN Climate Talks, the Australian government approved three new coal mines earlier today at Boggabri, Caval Ridge and Lake Vermont Meadowbrook.

NZ submits first Paris Agreement progress report

19 Dec 24 - New Zealand has submitted its first report to the UN on how the country is tracking towards its international climate target to 2030 under the Paris Agreement.

Govt's choice of climate leadership criticised as ‘Trumpian’

13 Dec 24 - New climate-related appointments have been met with a mixed reaction from policy experts, with one predicting the appointments signal the government will eventually disestablish the Climate Change...

Second emissions reduction plan still off-track

11 Dec 24 - The government has released its final emissions reduction plan for 2026-30, copping criticism for relying on unproven technology such as carbon capture and storage, as well as failing to meet crucial...

Dame Patsy Reddy appointed Climate Change Commission chair

9 Dec 24 - Dame Patsy Reddy has been appointed the new chair of the Climate Change Commission, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced this morning.

Why rich countries are ‘reluctant’ on coal-to-clean deals

9 Dec 24 - UK and German officials have said there will likely be no more Just Energy Transition Partnerships, as the focus shifts to “country platforms” instead.

Commission recommends ‘net negative’ 2050 target

6 Dec 24 - The Climate Change Commission has recommended the government adopt more ambitious climate targets, including updating ‘net zero’ to be net negative -20 MtCO2e by 2050, as well as moving to include...

Changes to limit ETS forestry will have 'dire consequences' - foresters

5 Dec 24 - Foresters say that new rules limiting farm to forestry conversions under the Emissions Trading Scheme are set to have dire consequences for forest growers as well as for the country’s ability to meet...

Govt releases controversial methane review

5 Dec 24 - The Government “will carefully consider” the findings of an independent review on New Zealand’s biogenic methane science and targets, it announced yesterday.

No excuse to not slash climate pollution – Carr

5 Dec 24 - Outgoing Climate Change Commission chair Rod Carr says every sector faces challenges in reducing its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and New Zealand is not unique in its barriers.

Auction preview: experts predict partial clearance tomorrow

3 Dec 24 - The secondary carbon market is trading just above the $64 auction floor, as tomorrow’s highly anticipated auction looms - the fourth and final of 2024.

Food system must be included in climate policy – expert

3 Dec 24 - Improving farming production methods, rather than reducing the number of animals farmed, will likely have only a limited overall impact on reducing emissions, according to an expert.

Pacific Youth hope historic hearing in the Hague delivers climate justice where COP did not

3 Dec 24 - Media release | Save the Children is urging world leaders to heed the call of Pacific children and young people as a landmark action to clarify states’ obligations to tackle the climate crisis gets...