Shell-Sieg in the Hague: Court tips over climate protection judgment!

Shell-Sieg in the Hague: Court tips over climate protection judgment!

Den Haag, Niederlande - A dramatic judgment from the Hague: The British energy giant Shell does not have to reduce its CO2 emissions! After a long legal dispute, the judges rejected the complaint from environmental organizations and collected an earlier judgment from 2021. A bitter setback for the climate protection officers who hoped for a drastic reduction!

In 2021, a Shell court had obliged to reduce its CO2 emissions by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2019. This also included the indirect emissions caused by suppliers and customers. But now the civil court in Haag has decided that Shell has a responsibility for climate protection, but no specific reduction goals can be imposed. The judges argued that a reduction in natural gas production could possibly lead to an increase in carbon emissions by coal, which would tighten the climate situation.

plaintiffs plan revision

Shell had appealed against the original judgment and was now right. The company not only does not have to reduce its direct emissions, but has also announced that it wants to strive for its own reduction of 50 percent by 2030. The environmental organization milieudefenie, which appeared as the main plaintiff and Shell described as "one of the largest climate dirty in the world", is now planning to go into revision. This judgment could have far -reaching consequences for similar procedures and further heat the debate about climate protection!