Climate change: New Zealand passes ‘zero carbon’ law

New Zealand has passed a law that aims to make the country almost carbon neutral by 2050. Farmers, who bring in a large portion of foreign income, will be given some flexibility.

The climate legislation, proposed by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, has been approved in the New Zealand parliament, with the support of all political parties, committing the nation to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050 and comply with its commitments under the Paris climate agreement.

The reduction target will have two separate planes. One for biogenic methane, mainly livestock, and another for all other greenhouse gases.