New Zealand gets another 'Fossil of the Day' award at COP31 climate conference

New Zealand has continued its dubious run of 'Fossil of the Day' awards at the COP31 annual climate conference, winning on the opening day.It's the fifth time in six years that New Zealand has received one of the awards, given out each day of the annual summit to countries seen to be backsliding on or blocking climate action.Climate Action Network International (CAN), the NGO that hands out the awards, said New Zealand won for its "climate ambition" in dismantling its own climate commitments.The citation includes the current shortfall to meeting New Zealand's Paris Agreement pledge, the formal complaint laid by a Dutch NGO over claims New Zealand has breached climate promises in its free trade agreement with the EU, and the government's decision to block legal action against climate polluters, including an existing court case.New Zealand received the award last year for the government's decision to weaken the country's methane emissions target.It was also given the award in 2021, 2022, and 2023."In just three years, [New Zealand's government] has gutted methane targets, let agricultural polluters off the hook and changed the law to shield corporations from climate litigation," CAN said.The award was 'accepted' on behalf of New Zealand by one of CAN's New Zealand representatives, Bianca Ranson.Ranson's father, Ngāpuhi climate activist Mike Smith, took the case against six major emitters that prompted the government's decision to block tort-based litigation over climate change."This government has placed the interests of corporate polluters and profit above its international climate commitments," Ranson said."These legal actions have profound implications for climate defenders and Indigenous peoples around the world, and we will continue to fight corporate polluters and negligent states."WWF-New Zealand spokesperson Teall Crossen, who was attending COP31 at Antalya in Türkiye, said the award was embarrassing for a country that once positioned itself as a climate leader."As countries come together to try and find climate solutions, Aotearoa is standing out for all the wrong reasons with its appalling climate backsliding and continued reliance on fossil fuels."It sent a message that "the world is watching", Crossen said."Whoever forms the next government needs to lift its game with a credible plan to phase out fossil fuels and make up the ground we've lost."Caretaker climate minister Simon Watts, who is due to head to COP31 next week, has been approached for comment.