NGO files EU complaint against New Zealand over climate — Climate Home News
Dutch environmental organization Both ENDS has filed a complaint with the European Commission against New Zealand, claiming that the country weakened its climate legislation in violation of its free trade agreement with the European Union. As Climate Home News reports, this is the first climate complaint filed under EU trade rules.
The free trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand entered into force in 2024. It became the world’s first trade agreement with legally binding climate provisions and the possibility of sanctions for their violation. The parties committed not to weaken environmental legislation in order to stimulate trade or investment and not to take action or fail to act in ways that substantially undermine the objective of the Paris Agreement.
Both ENDS’ claims
Both ENDS believes that the New Zealand government violated these commitments by restoring the possibility of oil and gas exploration in the country’s waters, presenting a climate plan with minimal emissions-reduction requirements, and adopting a law that hinders lawsuits against corporations over climate damage.
Both ENDS senior policy adviser Marius Troost said that, in the organization’s view, the EU’s trade partner is moving in a direction opposite to the goals of the Paris Agreement. The complaint was filed through the European Commission’s Single Entry Point mechanism, which allows civil society organizations to demand compliance with the EU’s trade commitments.
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Response and review procedure
A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade denied that the agreement had been violated and said that the government had not yet received official notification of the complaint. The ministry stated that the country takes its commitments under the agreement with the EU seriously, including its environmental and climate provisions.
The European Commission said it would conduct a preliminary assessment of the complaint and contact Both ENDS. If the Commission supports the complaint, the parties must begin negotiations. If New Zealand does not change its policy in accordance with the agreement, the case may be reviewed by an independent panel, which may require changes to be made. If such changes are not implemented, the panel may decide that the country should lose preferential access to the EU market.
The EU is New Zealand’s second-largest trading partner after China: about 14% of New Zealand’s exports go to the European market. Key exports to Europe include meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables.
