Shell does not have to drastically cut emissions, The Hague court rejects activists' complaint

British oil company Shell does not have to drastically cut its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the Court of Appeal in The Hague ruled today, rejecting a complaint by environmental activists. Three years ago, a court in the Netherlands ordered Shell to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030 compared with 2019 levels. At the time, the ruling was seen as a landmark decision. Shell said it was pleased with today's ruling, Reuters reported.

The Court of Appeal in The Hague today rejected the activists' complaint in its entirety. In its reasoning, it said, among other things, that the company is already taking steps to meet the targets for cutting its emissions. The court also said it was unclear whether requirements to cut emissions caused by the use of Shell's products would help combat climate change.

The original ruling ordered the company to cut by 2030 even those emissions caused by the use of its products. In the first-instance proceedings, the court sided with climate activists, who launched the case in 2019, and ruled that Shell had a duty to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to protect people from global warming.

The case against Shell was initiated by seven groups, including Greenpeace. It was the first time environmental campaigners had turned to the courts to force a major energy company to change its strategy.

In 2021, Shell already had one of the most ambitious environmental strategies in its sector. The company set a target of reducing the carbon intensity of its products by at least six percent by 2023, 20 percent by 2030 and 45 percent by 2035. It aims to be fully carbon neutral by 2050. All these targets were measured against 2016 levels.