New Zealand students sue energy minister over oil and gas permits decision

Lawsuit is the second major legal challenge to climate policy in New Zealand this year

A group of law students have filed a lawsuit at Wellington's high court against New Zealand's minister of energy over her decision to grant two new onshore oil and gas exploration permits just six months after the government declared a climate emergency.

Aotearoa New Zealand's current approach to climate action is embarrassing," said Phoebe Nikolau, a member of the Students for Climate Solutions group. I might be the claimant today as a law student, but I'll be the lawyer soon, and this will be my life's work ... Keep fossil fuels in the ground."