End Fossil Fuel Use and Production by 2035
The Policy: Green Party Climate Change Policy →
TL;DR
- The Green Party wants New Zealand to stop using and producing fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) no later than 2035, backed by laws that make the target legally binding rather than just a goal.
- Coal would go even sooner, with a phase-out deadline of 2030.
- The Greens say the change should be designed so the biggest burden falls on large industrial polluters, not low-income households.
- This is a major dividing line with the current National-ACT-NZ First government, which has moved the opposite way — reversing the 2018 ban on searching for offshore oil and gas, and encouraging more mining and gas exploration for energy security.
- The Greens are not in government, so this target is a party policy, not law. They have pledged to bring back the offshore exploration ban if they return to power.
- Independent trackers rate New Zealand's overall climate effort poorly, and the country is projected to miss its 2031–2035 emissions target by about nine million tonnes.
More detail
The biggest recent fight in this area was over the 2018 offshore oil and gas exploration ban. The government's law to reverse it passed in mid-2025 even though about 94.5% of people who made submissions opposed it. The government argues New Zealand's gas reserves are running down and new exploration is needed to keep the lights on and prices stable. The Greens and Labour argue it worsens New Zealand's climate path and damages its international reputation.
Supporters of a hard 2035 deadline say only a legally binding date will force real change and get New Zealand off volatile global fossil fuel markets; in 2026 the Greens proposed a National Electrification Plan (switching homes, transport, and industry to electricity) as the practical route. Critics worry about the cost and reliability of moving that fast, especially for industries and regions that depend on fossil fuels. Things to watch include whether new oil and gas permits are actually issued, and whether the Climate Change Commission finds the government on track for its targets.
Full Detail if you want to know more
Climate & Energy — Green Party's Binding 2035 Fossil Fuel Phase-Out
The Policy: Green Party Climate Change Policy →
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand commits to ensuring New Zealand "will be on track to end fossil-fuel use and production no later than 2035, through legally binding mechanisms." This target sits at the heart of the party's climate platform, framed as necessary to limit global warming to within 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels with no overshoot. The Greens also commit to ending coal use by 2030, five years ahead of the broader fossil fuel deadline, and to phasing out fossil fuels in a way that places the greatest burden on industrial polluters rather than low-income households.
The current National-ACT-NZ First coalition government takes a sharply different view. It has reversed Labour's 2018 offshore oil and gas exploration ban through the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025, changed the purpose of the Crown Minerals Act from "managing" to "promoting" mineral extraction, and scrapped or wound back a range of clean energy incentives. The government frames expanded gas exploration as an energy security necessity given declining domestic gas reserves.
What it does:
- Commits to ending all fossil fuel use and production in New Zealand no later than 2035, enforced through legally binding mechanisms rather than voluntary targets
- Sets a coal phase-out deadline of 2030, five years earlier than the broader 2035 target
- Requires New Zealand's legislated emissions reduction targets and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to align with a 1.5°C pathway with no overshoot
- Ensures the fossil fuel phase-out is designed so the greatest burden falls on large industrial polluters, not low-income or marginalised communities
- Calls for regional citizens' assemblies empowered to develop climate adaptation plans under Just Transition principles
Where things stand:
The most significant legislative battle over this policy area has been the reversal of New Zealand's 2018 offshore oil and gas exploration ban. The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill was introduced by NZ First Resources Minister Shane Jones in September 2024. Despite 94.5% of submitters opposing the bill during select committee hearings, it passed its third reading on 31 July 2025 and received royal assent on 5 August 2025. The Green Party and Labour both opposed the bill, arguing it worsened New Zealand's climate trajectory and damaged international credibility.
On the broader emissions front, New Zealand is projected to miss its third emissions budget (2031–2035) by approximately nine million tonnes under current government policies — a budget that runs directly up to the Green Party's 2035 fossil fuel deadline. The government released its second Emissions Reduction Plan in December 2024, but climate analysts and the Climate Change Commission found it insufficient to close the gap. New Zealand is rated "Highly Insufficient" by the independent Climate Action Tracker, which warns that if all countries followed New Zealand's current approach, global warming could reach 3°C to 4°C.
In June 2026, the Green Party used its State of the Planet address to call for a National Electrification Plan, arguing electrification of homes, transport and industry was the practical route off fossil fuels and to genuine energy security. Co-leader Chloe Swarbrick described the current government's approach as leaving households exposed to volatile global fossil fuel markets.
What to watch:
- The 2026 election — the Green Party has pledged to reintroduce the offshore oil and gas exploration ban upon returning to government, making fossil fuel policy a direct election dividing line
- Third emissions budget (2031–2035) — the Climate Change Commission will continue to assess whether the government's policies are sufficient to meet this budget; a significant projected miss of nine million tonnes makes this a key accountability moment
- New oil and gas permits under the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 — whether new exploration permits are actually issued (and whether commercial finds result) will test the government's energy security rationale and the environmental cost of reversing the ban
This overview is summarised by AI from public sources. It may contain errors and is a guide, not the definitive record — we welcome corrections.
Where our research raises a question the policy doesn't answer, we put it to you — these are our questions, not government policy. Your vote stays anonymous even when you sign up (we use sign-up only to send you more things to vote on that you care about), and we report aggregated results only — the country's sentiment, never how any individual voted.
Key milestones
Labour bans new offshore oil and gas exploration
The Labour-Green coalition government announces a ban on new offshore petroleum exploration permits, marking New Zealand's first legislative step toward phasing out fossil fuel extraction. Existing permits and onshore Taranaki operations are unaffected.
Greens petition against new government's plan to reverse oil and gas ban
Weeks after the National-led coalition takes office, the Green Party launches a public petition to save the 2018 offshore exploration ban, warning that reopening petroleum exploration defies public opinion and worsens climate risk.
Green Party warns NZ is 'back off track' on climate action
The Greens release analysis showing the government's rolled-back policies — including the oil and gas ban reversal and cuts to decarbonisation programmes — will add emissions roughly triple what the government's own climate plan saves, with lowest-income households bearing the greatest impact.
Second Emissions Reduction Plan released — third budget still at risk
The government's second Emissions Reduction Plan covering 2026–2030 is released. Climate analysts find it closes only part of the gap: New Zealand remains approximately nine million tonnes short of meeting its crucial 2031–2035 emissions budget, the period that overlaps with the Greens' 2035 fossil fuel deadline.
Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 passes, reversing offshore exploration ban
After 94.5% of submitters opposed the bill, the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 receives royal assent, formally reopening New Zealand's offshore territory to petroleum exploration and changing the purpose of the Crown Minerals Act from 'managing' to 'promoting' mineral extraction.
Sources
- Green Party Climate Change Policy — official position including 2035 binding target ↗
- Green Party Energy Policy — coal phase-out and renewable energy commitments ↗
- RNZ: New emissions plan still not on track to meet 2031–2035 climate targets ↗
- RNZ: New Zealand's future climate targets in jeopardy, new calculations find ↗
- Climate Action Tracker: New Zealand — rated 'Highly Insufficient' ↗
- Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 — Wikipedia summary of the offshore ban reversal ↗
- Beehive.govt.nz ↗
- Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand ↗
- Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand ↗