ACT has pledged to scrap New Zealand's net zero emissions target and repeal the zero carbon act as a part of a new climate policy unveiled ahead of the election.
The party said it would instead set New Zealand's emissions cap against those of its major trading partners, arguing the country's current approach was placing unnecessary costs on businesses and households.
“There is no point shutting down a clean and efficient New Zealand business if the same products are then made overseas with higher emissions," ACT leader David Seymour said.
"Climate policy should cut emissions, not export jobs."
“New Zealand’s climate policy is broken and sending the country broke as a result. A small trading nation can’t ignore climate policy, but overdoing it backfires and puts unnecessary costs on Kiwi businesses and households."
Under the policy, ACT would also introduce a "carbon tax refund", returning all net revenue raised through carbon auctions to New Zealanders.
Seymour said Kiwis were already paying the cost of carbon through petrol, electricity, freight and grocery prices.
"ACT says that the money the Government makes from selling carbon credits should be given back to households."
The party said it would also remove the government's minimum price for emissions trading scheme auctions, oppose introducing a tax on agricultural emissions and seek to discourage productive farmland from being converted into carbon forests.
Permanent forest owners would be required to carry the long-term costs and risks associated with their forests.
ACT's climate change spokesperson Simon Court said the changes would help prevent production and jobs from moving offshore.
"If a New Zealand business can produce steel, cement, aluminium or food more efficiently than its overseas competitors, closing that business is an economic own goal and an environmental one too."
Court said ACT would also seek a "better deal" for New Zealand under the Paris Agreement.
"New Zealand produces a tiny share of global emissions. We should play our part, but there is no virtue in sacrificing jobs, household incomes and productive land so politicians can boast about being more ambitious than everyone else."
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