Oil giant Shell has overturned a previous Dutch court ruling that required it to cut carbon emissions by 45%. The Hague Court of Appeal ruled that it couldn’t confirm Shell’s “social duty of care” to reduce emissions by this or any specific amount, although it acknowledged the company’s obligation to help limit emissions.
In 2021, Friends of the Earth and thousands of Dutch citizens won a case requiring Shell to reduce its CO2 emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. This historic decision marked the first time a private company was ordered to align its actions with global climate goals.
Shell welcomed the appeal’s outcome, while Friends of the Earth Netherlands called it a setback. The environmental group may now take the case to the Dutch Supreme Court, although a final verdict could take years. Group leader Donald Pols said, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
The appeals court acknowledged Shell’s responsibility in combating climate change, citing human rights to protection from dangerous climate impacts. However, it noted that Shell was already making emission reduction efforts and that there is no clear scientific consensus on the exact percentage reduction needed.
Shell has argued it is actively working to cut emissions and that climate policy should target the entire industry, not just one company. The company aims to reduce the carbon intensity of its products by 15-20% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
This appeal decision could impact global corporate climate accountability as more environmental groups turn to legal action to push companies and governments to meet international climate commitments.
