"The civil case stems from a March 2022 lawsuit by three environmental groups accusing TotalEnergies of "misleading commercial practices" for ads saying it could reach carbon neutrality while continuing oil and gas production. The plaintiffs took that legal route as "greenwashing" -- or the act of claiming to be more environmentally responsible than in reality -- is not specifically covered under French law."
"Starting in May 2021, TotalEnergies advertised its goal of "net zero by 2050, together with society" and touted gas as "the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions". At the time, the company had changed its name from Total to TotalEnergies to emphasise its investments in wind turbines and solar panels for electricity production."
""It's misleading, there is a big gap between reality and their activities which are still mostly based on fossil fuels... and their advertising which focuses on carbon neutrality and promoting gas and biofuels as clean energy," said Juliette Renaud from the French chapter of Friends of the Earth activist group."
A Paris court will rule on whether TotalEnergies misled consumers by overstating climate pledges while continuing oil and gas production. The case originates from a March 2022 lawsuit by three environmental groups alleging "misleading commercial practices" and framing the ads as greenwashing not explicitly covered under French law. Plaintiffs targeted around 40 advertisements and requested halting their use and adding disclaimers about fossil fuel climate impacts. TotalEnergies began advertising "net zero by 2050" in May 2021 and promoted gas as a lower-emission fossil fuel. The outcome could set legal precedent for corporate environmental advertising in Europe.
Read at The Local France
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