Our Response: NZ Drops in International Climate Rankings
New Zealand has continued to drop in global climate change performance rankings for the second year in a row. Back in 2023, New Zealand was ranked 34th; now we are 44th.
This also comes off the back of the news that New Zealand was awarded ‘Fossil of the Day’ at COP30, for the Government’s recent decision to halve New Zealand’s legislated methane target (you can read more about that here).
The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) ranks countries based on their emissions, deployment of renewable electricity, overall energy use and climate policy over the last year. Running since 2005, it is an authoritative evaluation of the climate performance of 64 countries.
New Zealand has been ranked as a ‘low performer’, receiving a low rating in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, a ‘high’ for renewable energy, and a ‘very low’ for climate policy. The resounding message is that New Zealand’s climate policies are backsliding and not good enough.
New Zealand’s backsliding
This is really no surprise.
Recent information revealed in an OIA response shows that before the Government reset New Zealand’s climate policies in 2023, we were on track to reduce our emissions by around 26 million tonnes of CO2-e more than we are now. Those cuts included cutting the Clean Car Discount, watering down the Clean Car Standards (further watered down this week), and removing the GIDI fund to support industrial decarbonisation.
For context, that is worth roughly $1B worth of offshore mitigation (assuming a carbon price of $50/T). In other words, the Government’s backsliding may cost New Zealanders an extra $1B in offshore mitigation to enable New Zealand to meet its Paris Agreement targets - money on offshore offsets that we otherwise did not need to spend.
Shared with permission from Dr. Christina Hood
Lawyers for Climate Action is currently challenging the way in which the New Zealand Government scrapped around 35 climate policies after it was elected in 2023, along with environmental law charity ELI.
Summary of CCPI Report
The CCPI points to factors such as New Zealand’s decision to cut the 2050 methane target, to set an unambitious NDC2, and roll back the oil and gas exploration ban as reasons for its falling performance.
It also notes that internationally, New Zealand has enjoyed a strong reputation for its international diplomacy, supported by the New Zealand Government's submission of its second NDC on time. However, cracks are starting to appear. For instance, New Zealand’s international climate finance commitment, which supports developing countries, particularly in the Pacific, to respond to climate change, expires at the end of 2025, and funding has yet to be renewed. In 2025, New Zealand also withdrew from the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance after reinstating offshore oil and gas exploration.
The CCPI also explains that one of the features of success for New Zealand’s climate action so far has been the enduring nature and political consensus that allowed the Climate Change Response Act 2002 to be amended in 2019 - something we now know to be short-lived, given the Government’s recent announcements to hollow out the Climate Change Response Act 2002. We expect New Zealand’s downward trajectory to continue next year.
Globally, it is not all bad news. As Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and CAN International note, ten years on from the Paris Agreement, progress is clearly visible: global per capita emissions are falling, renewable energies are growing rapidly, and more than 100 countries now have their own climate targets for net-zero emissions.
However, the pace is still too slow to meet the Paris Agreement Temperature Goals. New Zealand needs to show leadership and step up its climate policies - which, done well, will mean more secure, affordable, and abundant energy, safer and healthier homes, and stronger investment in nature.
There is still time for New Zealand to change course ahead of our 2030 NDC and credibly honour its legal obligations on climate change.
