Climate Change: Another test case

Waka Kotahi basicly exists to build roads. And predictably, their latest land transport plan, while having some funding for public and active transport, is road heavy. And now they're being taken to court over it:

Waka Kotahi, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), is being taken to court over an alleged failure to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The legal challenge is being brought by Movement, a charity organisation promoting sustainable transport.

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Movement chair Christine Rose said the Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport 2021 had requirements that Waka Kotahi act to reduce greenhouse emissions.

“However, NZTA continues its bias towards roads and continues to approve transport projects that will increase emissions,” Rose said.

This isn't the first challenge of a core government policy on climate change grounds, and it won't be the last. And while the merits aren't clear yet, the fact that it has been brought should have an effect on future policy, by making Waka Kotahi (and other agencies) more cautious to avoid future challenges. And that will be worth it, even if it fails.