Climate activists In 2021, when a Dutch court ordered the oil giant to cut its carbon emissions by 45 percent by the end of 2030. Three years later, Shell was able to win an appeal against this decision. According to the court, Shell does not have a “social standard of care” to reduce emissions. reports.
The 2021 ruling was notable because it was the first time a court had forced a private company to comply with the 2015 Paris Agreement in addition to Dutch law. However, the appeals court judge said that while Shell had an obligation to reduce emissions, the 45 percent reduction could not be established because there was no universally accepted amount. Shell’s It says it plans to reduce the carbon intensity of its products by a relatively modest 15 to 20 percent by 2030 compared to its 2016 baseline.
The 2021 decision will only come into force in the Netherlands. Shell would not legally have to comply with the lower court’s decision for its operations outside the Netherlands. Now even that small gain is off the table for now.
Activists mainly associated with the Milieudefensie (Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth). promises to continue the fight against climate change. “Big polluters are powerful. But united, we as people have the power to change them,” said Milieudefensie director Donald Pols. They are now trying to take the case to the Supreme Court, but it will likely take years to get a final ruling.
