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The government wants to amend climate laws to prevent companies from being sued over damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions. File photo.
The government should reconsider its intention to amend climate laws to prevent lawsuits, according to an open letter signed by more than 100 lawyers, climate scientists and legal academics.
They say the move has "clearly struck a nerve", and the letter says the decision was contrary to New Zealand's climate objectives, blocks the development of common law in the country and risks undermining the rule of law.
Former British High Commissioner to New Zealand Laura Clarke - now chief executive of ClientEarthy - is included in the 118 signatures, along with environmental groups, legal academics from around the world and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
