Royal Dutch Shell has confirmed that it will appeal the landmark Dutch court ruling, which requires the oil giant to reduce carbon emissions more quickly.
After Friends of the Earth and more than 17,000 co-plaintiffs successfully argued that Shell has been aware of the dangerous consequences of carbon dioxide emissions for decades and that its climate targets have not gone far, the Hague Court made a landmark judgment in May this year. enough.
Shell CEO Ben van Beurden stated that the company agreed that “urgent action is needed” to reduce carbon emissions and vowed to accelerate the pace of becoming a “net-zero carbon” company, but said that Shell would still propose a ruling. The appeal was “because the court decision against a single company was invalid”.
“What we need is clear and ambitious policies to promote fundamental changes in the entire energy system,” he said. “Climate change is a challenge that requires both urgent action and a global, collaborative approach that encourages coordination among all parties.”
Friends of the Earth Netherlands, also known as Milieudefensie, said that the appeal would send a “wrong signal” and confirm Shell’s “Lack of trust“Responding to the global climate crisis.
Donald Nols, director of Milieudefensie, stated that the call was aimed at delaying any Shell actions and warned that “the longer the delay, the more severe the climate consequences for all of us”.
The court ruled that in accordance with Dutch law and the European Convention on Human Rights-the right to life and the right to family life-Shell is obliged to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. The company starts with “a long time“About the damage caused by carbon emissions.
Milieudefensie’s lawyer Roger Cox said: “The judge passed a deliberate decision on Shell in the judgment. We believe that this decision will be reconfirmed on appeal. The science clearly explains the consequences and solutions of dangerous climate change.”
Shell set its latest carbon emission target before a shareholder vote on its plan to become a net-zero carbon energy company by 2050 earlier this year. However, it has also signaled to investors that it will continue to grow its natural gas business by more than 20% in the next few years, despite the urgent need to start substantial emissions reductions before the end of this decade.
Although the FTSE 100 Index Group won the support of most investors, it also suffered losses A major investor rebellion After the Dutch climate activist organization Follow This called on the company to set stricter carbon emissions targets and obtained 30% of shareholders’ votes.
In a statement, the ruling Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said two weeks later On his LinkedIn page He was disappointed that Shell was “singled” by a ruling that “does not help reduce global carbon dioxide emissions.”
“Imagine Shell’s decision to stop selling gasoline and diesel today. This will definitely reduce Shell’s carbon emissions. But it will not help the world at all,” Van Burden wrote. “The demand for fuel will not change. People will refuel their cars and delivery trucks at other service stations.”
