Shell Wins Landmark Climate Case Against Green Groups in Dutch Appeal

The BBC is reporting that oil giant Shell has won a landmark case in the Dutch courts, overturning an earlier ruling requiring it to cut its carbon emissions by 45 per cent.

The Hague court of appeal said it could not establish that Shell had a “social standard of care” to reduce its emissions by 45 per cent or any other amount, even though it agreed the company had an obligation to citizens to limit emissions.

Three years ago, a court in The Hague backed a case by Friends of the Earth and $17,000 Dutch citizens requiring Shell to reduce its CO2 emissions significantly, in line with the Paris climate accords.

The ruling came as climate talks involving some 2-hundred countries got under way in Azerbaijan.

Shell said it was pleased with the court’s decision, but Friends of the Earth Netherlands said the ruling was a setback that affected them deeply.

The environmental group can now take its case against Shell to the Supreme Court – but a final verdict could be years away.