Friends of the Earth Netherlands (FOE) is taking its legal battle against British multinational oil and gas company Shell to the Netherlands’ Supreme Court. The environmental group is demanding that Shell adopt a clearly defined carbon reduction target, arguing that without a legally binding mandate, the company will not take meaningful steps to curb its emissions.
The case follows the November 12, 2024 ruling by the Hague Court of Appeal in the Milieudefensie et al. vs. Royal Dutch Shell case. The court acknowledged Shell’s “special responsibility” as a major oil and gas producer to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but stopped short of imposing an “absolute reduction” obligation, such as the 45% cut by 2030 ordered by a lower court in 2021. The court also noted that current EU law does not require Shell to meet such reduction targets in the foreseeable future.
FOE argues that Shell’s emissions reduction efforts remain insufficient without a concrete legal mandate. In the initial May 26, 2021 ruling, the District Court of The Hague had ordered Shell to reduce its global greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by the end of 2030 compared to 2019 levels. Shell appealed that decision, leading to the more lenient ruling by the Court of Appeal.
The Netherlands’ Supreme Court will not reassess the evidence but will focus on whether the Court of Appeal applied the law correctly and whether its ruling was justified. The outcome of this case could set a significant legal precedent for corporate accountability in addressing climate change.