Shell wins appeal against landmark carbon-emissions ruling

The court had asked the oil-and-gas giant to cut its carbon emissions by 45% by the end of 2030 from 2019 levels

- Jenny Strasburg

A Dutch court ruled in favor of an appeal by Shell against a 2021 landmark decision that said it was partially responsible for climate change and must sharply cut its carbon emissions.

The ruling is a setback for efforts by nonprofits and other groups to hold energy companies and other multinationals responsible for the effects of climate change.

The landmark 2021 decision by The Hague district court ordered the oil-and-gas giant—at the time based in the Netherlands—to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by the end of 2030 from 2019 levels.

The Hague Court of Appeal on Tuesday ruled that while Shell is obliged to reduce its emissions, the court was unable to determine which percentage should apply. "There is currently insufficient consensus in climate science on a specific reduction percentage to which an individual company like Shell should adhere," it said.

It therefore rejected the claims of Milieudefensie, the Dutch arm of environmental group Friends of the Earth.

The court added that Shell is already working to reduce its own emissions and that an obligation for the company to reduce emissions caused by buyers of its products would be ineffective.