Fonterra submission: Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill

Fonterra welcomes the passing of the Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill.

The Bill sets out that greenhouse gas emissions policy is a matter for Parliament, New Zealand’s elected representatives. We think this is appropriate, as Parliament is best placed to determine an economy-wide regulatory response on matters of significant public interest and wide-reaching impact such as climate change. 

Put simply, the High Court was being asked to impose emissions reduction requirements on six businesses, including Fonterra, that would sit outside the framework set by Parliament.

If granted, the impacts on Fonterra, farmers, the dairy sector and New Zealand’s wider economy could have been devastating. The lawsuit had the potential to result in Fonterra and our farmer owners having to cease operations immediately and create unprecedented economic disruption for New Zealand. 

Fonterra has maintained its position since this case began in 2019, that climate change is a matter of significant public and economic policy requiring a sophisticated, nationally coordinated response.

Reducing our impact on the climate continues to be a priority for the Co-operative. We are making good progress in reducing emissions from our operations and are committed to working with farmers to achieve our on-farm emissions intensity target.

As part of the parliamentary process, Fonterra prepared a submission in support of the Bill.

You can read the full submission below.