"A French court on Thursday ruled oil and gas giant TotalEnergies had engaged in "misleading commercial practices" by overstating its climate pledges, in what activists said was the first such ruling worldwide against a major oil company for climate misinformation. The case could set a legal precedent for corporate environmental advertising, which is starting to face tighter regulations in the European Union."
"But ClientEarth, an organisation which closely monitors case law against the oil and gas industry, said Thursday's ruling was the first such conviction in the world against an oil company for corporate "greenwashing" -- or the act of claiming to be more environmentally responsible than in reality. The Paris court found that TotalEnergies had made environmental claims that "misled" consumers into believing that it could achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 while increasing oil and gas production."
"Greenpeace and two other environmental NGOs told AFP the ruling was "a major legal precedent against climate misinformation". "This is the first time anywhere in the world that a major oil and gas company has been convicted by the courts for misleading the public by greenwashing its image regarding its contribution to the fight against climate change," said the organisation, one of the plaintiffs in the case."
A French court ruled that TotalEnergies engaged in misleading commercial practices by overstating its climate pledges. Activists described the decision as the first worldwide ruling against a major oil company for climate misinformation. The case could establish a legal precedent for corporate environmental advertising amid tightening European Union regulations. European courts previously ruled against KLM and Lufthansa for misleading environmental claims. The Paris court found TotalEnergies had misled consumers by claiming it could reach carbon neutrality by 2050 while increasing oil and gas production. Complaints related to fossil gas and biofuels were dismissed. The lawsuit began in March 2022.
Read at The Local France
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