NZ Govt’s move to halt climate litigation under international scrutiny
Today 12:30pm
By Liz Kivi | Local and international NGOs have signed an open letter calling on the Government to reconsider its decision to shield major emitters from legal liability for climate-related harm.
Hipkins pans LNG plan as ‘massive step backwards’
Today 12:30pm
By Liz Kivi | Labour leader Chris Hipkins has told a Queenstown audience that a Government he leads would not proceed with a planned LNG import terminal, if elected at November’s election.
Competition weak in key energy sectors says Commerce Commission
Today 12:30pm
The Commerce Commission says competition remains weak in New Zealand's electricity and gas sectors despite modest improvement across the wider economy, highlighting how difficult it is for new entrants to challenge established infrastructure players.
Biomass sector asks: where did the love go?
Mon 18 May 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | New Zealand has sufficient biomass in its plantation forests to replace natural gas for industrial process heat at lower costs than electrification, but is failing to get the attention it deserves, sector leaders say.
Urgent need to rethink tourism says expert
Mon 18 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The post-pandemic recovery has created an urgent need to rethink how tourism operates, who benefits from it, and how it impacts the social and environmental systems it depends on, according to new research.
CARBON PRICE
Today 12:30pm
Exclusively for subscribers, the Carbon News NZU Index tracks daily movements in the compliance carbon market across multiple trading platforms.
Govt unveils long-awaited voluntary carbon market guidance
Fri 15 May 2026
By Shannon Morris-Williams | The Government has released long-awaited guidance for New Zealand’s voluntary carbon and nature markets, as questions continue for the sector despite ministers signalling support for its growth.
Carbon News updates forward curve
Wed 13 May 2026
Carbon News has updated its ten-year NZU forward curve, following a recent rise in spot market prices, with NZUs rallying from about $34 in January to nearly $54 in early May.
Conservation land open for voluntary carbon market schemes
12 May 2026
By Pattrick Smellie | The government is to open up the Crown-owned conservation estate to private investment in voluntary carbon market projects.
Australian operator to run NZ ETS auctions
11 May 2026
The Government has appointed an Australian company to run its Emissions Trading Scheme auctions, taking over from NZX, which has operated the ETS auctions since they began in 2021.
Declare climate crisis a global public health emergency, experts tell WHO
Today 12:30pm
The climate crisis should be declared a global public health emergency by the World Health Organization, or millions more people will die unnecessarily, leading international experts have said.
A closely guarded plan to cool Earth is revealed
Today 12:30pm
A company that aims to make billions of dollars by cooling the Earth has lifted the veil of secrecy that until now has hidden its plans for preventing sunlight from overheating the planet.
How the environmental movement lost its power – and how to get back
Today 12:30pm
COMMENT: How did the movement lose its vibrancy? More screen time, less wild habitat available to visit, and a shift to urban living have made Americans less viscerally connected to the splendor of planet Earth.
Scientists find climate change is reducing oxygen in rivers worldwide
Today 12:30pm
Global warming is causing rivers to slowly lose oxygen, threatening fish and other lives in the waterways, a new study shows.
The UK faces growing climate threats – where is the response to match?
Today 12:30pm
COMMENT: UK voters’ dissatisfaction with business as usual must be harnessed to address public concerns and build a country that is resilient to climate change impacts.
Greenpeace's new fuel crisis scorecard: Coalition flunks, Labour offers few commitments
Today 12:30pm
Media release | As fuel prices remain high and the Budget looms closer, Greenpeace Aotearoa has released a scorecard ranking political parties on practical solutions to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels and shield households from oil and gas price shocks.
CLIMATE CALENDAR
Today 12:30pm
The Carbon News calendar of talks, events, conferences, consultations, and petitions related to climate change.
Fourth petroleum permit application enters competitive process
Fri 15 May 2026
Media release: New Zealand Government | The fourth petroleum exploration permit application since the removal of the exploration ban late last year has entered the open market competitive process, an encouraging signal of renewed confidence in investing in the country’s sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.
Combined climate extremes may prompt carbon budget rethink
Thu 14 May 2026
Media release: Springer Nature | Combined extreme climate events are likely to become more common in the future if carbon emissions continue to rise, a paper in Nature suggests.
Government biodiversity credit scheme welcomed as opportunity for restoration
12 May 2026
Media release | Forest & Bird says today’s Government announcement supporting the development of voluntary biodiversity credit schemes has potential to bring about much needed investment into nature restoration.
