Shell wins appeal against landmark emissions ruling

A Dutch court has overturned a landmark ruling ordering fossilfuel giant Shell to significantly cut its carbon emissions, in a blow to climate campaigners. In the original 2021 ruling, hailed as a monumental victory” by activists, Shell was ordered to cut its carbon emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 compared to 2019 levels in line with the Paris climate accords.

- ANDY GREGORY

The legal action – brought in 2019 by seven activist groups, including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Netherlands – marked the first time that campaigners had sought to use the courts to force companies to curtail activities contributing to the climate crisis.

But as world leaders gathered for the UN’s Cop29 climate summit, the Dutch court of appeal annulled the previous verdict, ruling that – despite Shell having a responsibility to cut emissions – it was unable to determine a fitting reduction target for oil and gas companies, based on the available science and data.

Following yesterday’s ruling, Friends of the Earth Netherlands vowed to continue its fight against large polluters. But it did not say whether it would launch a further appeal at the Netherlands’ Supreme Court. “This hurts,” said director Donald Pols. “At the same time, this case has shown that large polluters are not above the law.”

Shell chief executive Wael Sawan said the energy giant believed the decision was “the right one for the global energy transition, the Netherlands and our company”, adding: “Our target to become a net zero emissions energy business by 2050 remains at the heart of Shell’s strategy and is transforming our business.”