New Zealand is losing ground on the fight against climate change under Christopher Luxon’s Government.

“Climate change is the defining global challenge of our time, and it is increasingly clear that under National, New Zealand is falling behind on the commitments we made under the Paris Agreement,” Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Deborah Russell said.

“Christopher Luxon’s Government is taking us backwards by watering down our targets and undoing years of work to cut emissions. While other countries are accelerating the transition to clean energy and low-emissions agriculture, New Zealand risks being left behind.”

Deborah Russell will attend COP30 this week as part of New Zealand’s official delegation, leaving Sunday 16 November and returning Saturday 22 November.

“I’ll be meeting with countries that are creating new industries and jobs by tackling climate change head-on. That’s the kind of leadership New Zealand needs - not a government that’s asleep at the wheel.

“Climate change is a global challenge that demands real action here at home. National’s failure to act is costing New Zealand the chance to build a cleaner, stronger economy for the future,” Deborah Russell said.