Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has copped criticism this week for tossing out a handful of climate-related policies, despite them having a marginal impact on total emissions.
The real blow to New Zealand’s climate goals was dealt by his predecessor in December and may have resulted in a failed carbon credit auction on Wednesday morning.
On Monday Hipkins announced a second set of government programmes will be stopped or delayed to free up $1 billion to spend on the cost of living crisis.
Among these programmes were several climate-related policies, which prompted a backlash from both media and potential coalition partners.
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the decision was “disgusting” and suggested the Green Party’s Climate Change Minister, James Shaw, ought to resign.
Shaw said cabinet’s decision potentially breached the cooperation agreement between the two parties, and made climate goals harder to achieve.