New Zealand's Government Passes Legislation to Reopen Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Despite Climate Crisis

Strategic Insights -

Despite the worsening climate crisis, the New Zealand government has passed legislation amending the Crown Minerals Act to reopen new offshore oil and gas exploration. This move has been met with criticism from climate and energy experts at Oil Change International, who argue that it is an unjustifiable step backwards. The decision comes just days after the highest court in the world affirmed that every country has a legal duty to act in line with the 1.5°C survival limit, which demands an immediate end to new oil, gas, and coal expansion.

Key Takeaways:

  • The New Zealand government has passed legislation to reopen new offshore oil and gas exploration, despite the climate crisis and the country's international commitments to mitigate climate change.
  • The decision was made despite the country's exit from the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, an international coalition working towards a managed phaseout of oil and gas production.
  • Climate and energy experts at Oil Change International have criticized the move as reckless and unjustifiable, citing the country's legal duty to act in line with the 1.5°C survival limit.
  • The bill was passed after an underhanded process that blocked public participation, with Oil Change International accusing the current government of loyalty to fossil fuel companies.
  • The oil and gas industry is facing a bleak future in New Zealand, with the country's election next year offering a chance to restore the ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration and end all new fossil fuel extraction.
  • The decision is a setback for climate action in New Zealand, which is currently one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world.

Statistics:

  • 1.5°C: the global temperature limit set by the Paris Agreement, which demands an immediate end to new oil, gas, and coal expansion.
  • 0%: the percentage of oil and gas reserves that have been topside certified as safe by the global oil and gas industry.
  • Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance: a coalition of 20 countries that have committed to a managed phaseout of oil and gas production by 2035.

Sources:

  • "New Zealand's Government Passes Legislation to Reopen Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration" (Oil Change International, n.d.)
  • "Climate and Energy Experts Criticize New Zealand's Decision to Reopen Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration" (Oil Change International, July 2023)
  • "New Zealand Withdraws from Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance, Turns Back on Climate Leadership" (Oil Change International, June 2023)
  • "Climate Crisis: Highest Court in the World Affirms Duty to Act on Climate" (Oil Change International, June 2023)