07 November 2019 - New Zealand passes Zero Carbon Bill with near-unanimous support
Zero Carbon Bill passes with near-unanimous support, setting climate change targets into law
Henry Cooke (Stuff, 07/11/2019)
The Government's Zero Carbon Bill passed with near-unanimous support on Thursday, after National agreed to support the climate change law.
Despite supporting the bill National have set out several changes to the law that they would make in their first 100 days if elected, including removing the controversial methane target and asking an independent commission to set it.
National's votes are not needed for the bill to pass but are hugely important in setting out whether or not the law can survive across governments, a fervent hope of Climate Change Minister James Shaw.
Two climates in one day: explaining the new climate change bills
Phil Smith (RNZ, 06/11/2019)
There are two different climate change bills in Parliament this week. One bill is just starting off (it passed a first reading on Tuesday), the other is being polished off this week.
Two similarly named bills up at the same time is a recipe for confusion so here’s a brief outline of which is which, and what they do.
Ardern says New Zealand on 'right side of history' as MPs pass zero-carbon bill
Eleanor Ainge Roy (The Guardian, 07/11/2019)
Jacinda Ardern’s landmark climate legislation has passed in New Zealand parliament, with historic cross-party support, committing the nation to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050 and meet its commitments under the Paris climate accords.
The climate change response (zero carbon) amendment bill passed on Thursday afternoon with the centre-right opposition National party throwing their support behind it late in the day, despite none of their proposed amendments being accepted. The bill passed 119 votes to one.
'This is our nuclear moment': NZ passes climate change law
Ben McKay (The Sydney Morning Herald, 07/11/2019)
New Zealand has reached agreement on climate change policy, passing the Zero Carbon Bill in Parliament.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's government landed their flagship climate legislation on Thursday with the support of the opposition National party, which she hopes will ensure the longevity of the law.