Climate and environment policy in New Zealand covers how the country cuts greenhouse gas emissions, prices carbon, manages farming's large methane footprint, and weighs development against protection of land, water and the sea. It matters because climate change is set in law: under the Climate Change Response Act, New Zealand has a legislated target of net zero greenhouse gases (other than biogenic methane) by 2050, and progress is tracked through binding five-year emissions budgets.

What's happening:

• New Zealand's net emissions for the year to 2024 were about 55 million tonnes CO2-equivalent, down roughly 2% on the prior year, while gross emissions barely moved. Agriculture is more than half of total emissions, mostly methane from livestock.
• In December 2024 the Government released its second Emissions Reduction Plan covering 2026-2030, leaning on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the Electrify NZ renewables push, EV charging and forestry rather than new sector regulation.
• The independent Climate Change Commission's 2025 monitoring report (25 July 2025) found the first budget (2022-2025) likely to be met and the second within reach on a narrow margin, but warned the third budget (2031-2035) is on track to be missed by about 9 MtCO2e, with heavy reliance on forest removals a key risk.
• In January 2025 New Zealand lodged its second Paris target (NDC): a 51-55% cut on 2005 levels by 2035, announced by Climate Change Minister Simon Watts.
• In October 2025 the Government reset the 2050 biogenic methane target from 24-47% to 14-24% below 2017 levels, and earlier scrapped the He Waka Eke Noa farm-pricing scheme and kept agriculture out of the ETS.
• The ETS itself stumbled: the final 2025 carbon auction sold no units, as secondary-market prices sat below the reserve floor.

Where the parties stand:

• National / coalition Government: argues its plan is "ambitious and achievable" and technology-led. Minister Watts says deeper methane cuts are limited by technology and that slashing farm output would shift production to less efficient countries. The coalition also passed the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 to speed consents for infrastructure and resource projects, and is reforming freshwater farming rules.
• NZ First: has pushed to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, arguing the targets harm farmers and the economy.
• Greens: co-leader Chloe Swarbrick calls the Government plan "wishful thinking" that gives up on cutting pollution at source; the Greens' alternative He Ara Anamata claims far deeper cuts.
• Labour: climate spokesperson Megan Woods calls the approach "flimsy and backward-looking" and points to cuts in climate funding.
• Conservation groups: Forest & Bird's Richard Capie called the Fast-track law "a dark day for New Zealand", and colleague Geoff Keey described it as a bill "to override environmental laws".
• Pacific neighbours: Tuvalu's Climate Minister Maina Talia said Pacific nations were "disheartened" by the weaker methane target.

*Neutrality note: positions above are attributed to named figures and parties; this entry does not endorse any side.*

What to watch:

• Whether the third emissions budget (2031-2035) gap closes, given the Commission's warning that forestry offsets carry real risk.
• The promised 2040 review of the methane target and whether new on-farm technology (such as methane inhibitors) arrives at scale.
• ETS credibility after failed auctions, and whether price settings are tightened.
• Delivery and legal challenges around Fast-track projects, including any seabed-mining and mining consents.