Fonterra Supports Legislative Changes to Climate Change Response Act

Fonterra, a leading dairy cooperative in New Zealand, has publicly supported the government's recent announcement to introduce changes to the Climate Change Response Act. This legislative amendment is intended to prevent findings of liability for tort related to climate change damage or harm caused by greenhouse gas emissions in both current and future court proceedings.

The case in question involves Mr. Smith's legal actions against Fonterra, along with Genesis, Z Energy, New Zealand Steel, Dairy Holdings, and BT Mining, which began in 2019. Fonterra has consistently argued that climate change is a significant public and economic policy issue that requires a coordinated national response, suggesting that such decisions should be made by Parliament rather than the courts.

Minister Goldsmith's announcement aligns with Fonterra's position, emphasizing the need for legislative clarity to support emission reduction goals while maintaining energy security, supply chain integrity, investment confidence, and export competitiveness. Fonterra has been actively engaging with the government on policy matters, including climate change and emissions reductions.

The cooperative's statement indicates that the document outlining their stance was shared with Mr. Smith during the discovery phase of the ongoing litigation. Fonterra's engagement reflects the broader business community's involvement in shaping climate policies in New Zealand.