Oil company prevails in lawsuit against climate advocates
British energy giant Shell has successfully appealed a Dutch court ruling that mandated significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
A Dutch appeals court has overturned a 2021 ruling that required Shell to reduce emissions.
Shell, the British oil giant, has achieved a significant legal victory against environmental organizations in the Netherlands that sought a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from the company.
On Tuesday, the appeals court in The Hague annulled a previous ruling from 2021, which had stemmed from a lawsuit filed against Shell by Friends of the Earth, various NGOs, and a group of individuals.
The environmental activists initiated the lawsuit in 2019, contending that Shell bore a responsibility to lower its greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
The original decision mandated Shell to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. This mandate applied not only to the company’s own emissions but also to those generated from the combustion of its products, such as fuel burned in vehicles.
The court argued that Shell should adhere to the “worldwide agreement” that calls for a 45% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, aiming to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in line with the objectives set forth in the 2016 Paris Agreement.
However, the appeals court in The Hague dismissed the entire ruling on Tuesday, citing that Shell was already taking steps to reduce its emissions. According to Reuters, the court also indicated uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of reducing emissions linked to Shell’s products in the broader fight against climate change.
In their statement, Shell reaffirmed its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and aims to halve emissions from its operations by 2030. “The past few years have highlighted the critical importance of secure and affordable energy for economies and people’s lives,” the company stated.
Friends of the Earth characterized the verdict as “a blow to climate justice,” but added that the decision "will only fuel climate groups’ determination as they continue to challenge big polluters."
The environmental organization has three months to appeal to the Dutch Supreme Court, which would take approximately 18 months to reach a final decision, according to the Financial Times' sources.
Shell ranks among the largest investor-owned oil and gas companies globally by revenue. The Carbon Majors database attributes the British energy company as one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from 2016 to 2023, being responsible for at least 1% of global emissions.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
Shell, the British oil giant, has achieved a significant legal victory against environmental organizations in the Netherlands that sought a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from the company.
On Tuesday, the appeals court in The Hague annulled a previous ruling from 2021, which had stemmed from a lawsuit filed against Shell by Friends of the Earth, various NGOs, and a group of individuals.
The environmental activists initiated the lawsuit in 2019, contending that Shell bore a responsibility to lower its greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
The original decision mandated Shell to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. This mandate applied not only to the company’s own emissions but also to those generated from the combustion of its products, such as fuel burned in vehicles.
The court argued that Shell should adhere to the “worldwide agreement” that calls for a 45% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, aiming to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in line with the objectives set forth in the 2016 Paris Agreement.
However, the appeals court in The Hague dismissed the entire ruling on Tuesday, citing that Shell was already taking steps to reduce its emissions. According to Reuters, the court also indicated uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of reducing emissions linked to Shell’s products in the broader fight against climate change.
In their statement, Shell reaffirmed its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and aims to halve emissions from its operations by 2030. “The past few years have highlighted the critical importance of secure and affordable energy for economies and people’s lives,” the company stated.
Friends of the Earth characterized the verdict as “a blow to climate justice,” but added that the decision "will only fuel climate groups’ determination as they continue to challenge big polluters."
The environmental organization has three months to appeal to the Dutch Supreme Court, which would take approximately 18 months to reach a final decision, according to the Financial Times' sources.
Shell ranks among the largest investor-owned oil and gas companies globally by revenue. The Carbon Majors database attributes the British energy company as one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions from 2016 to 2023, being responsible for at least 1% of global emissions.
Frederick R Cook for TROIB News
