Friends of the Earth Takes Shell Case to Supreme Court for Specific Carbon Targets

Friends of the Earth Netherlands is appealing to the Supreme Court, demanding specific carbon reduction targets for Shell. The group persists after a court ruling overturned a demand for Shell to cut emissions by 45% by 2030. A decision is expected in 2026.

Friends of the Earth Netherlands is escalating its legal battle against oil giant Shell, bringing the case before the Netherlands' Supreme Court. The group continues to pursue specific carbon reduction targets for the company, despite a previous ruling that Shell had successfully appealed.

The appeals court acknowledged Shell's responsibility to reduce emissions for global warming mitigation. However, it did not set a specific reduction target, prompting Friends of the Earth to seek further legal action. The environmental group's lawyer, Roger Cox, emphasizes the legal foundation for a more specific ruling aligned with the Paris Climate Agreement.

The initial ruling mandated a 45% reduction in Shell's carbon emissions by 2030 from 2019 levels. Shell argued the decision could inadvertently increase global pollution by driving consumers to shift from gas to more polluting energy sources, like coal. The Supreme Court review will focus on the procedural correctness of previous decisions, with a verdict anticipated in 2026.

(With inputs from agencies.)