Climate policy changes show 'drift rather than discipline'

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts. (Image: NZME)

Thu, 06 Nov 2025

The Government is moving to decouple Emissions Trading Scheme settings from New Zealand’s international carbon reduction obligations, along with several other changes to climate change legislation. They include reducing the role of the Climate Change Commission in advising on policy.Critics say the changes, announced on Nov 4, could have a negative effect on carbon prices and signalled policy drift rather than discipline.NZUs (a carbon unit) were trading recently at the $50 to $51.50 mark, down about 42 cents from before the announcement....

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