The Paris Court of Appeal opens the way to an unprecedented climate trial against TotalEnergies

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Le Monde or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The Paris Court of Appeal has ruled that NGOs and several communities can sue TotalEnergies to force the company to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions
• This marks the beginning of an unprecedented climate trial against the oil giant under the duty of vigilance law

🔭 The context: This decision overturns previous judgments that dismissed the NGOs' actions
• The new chamber 5-12 of the Court of Appeal, designed to handle disputes related to corporate ecological responsibility, made this ruling, opening the way for a full examination of the claims against TotalEnergies and EDF

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This ruling sets a significant precedent for holding corporations accountable for their environmental impact
• It emphasizes the importance of corporate responsibility in mitigating climate change and protecting human and environmental health

⏭️ What's next: Unless appealed to the Court of Cassation, the case will proceed to the Paris judicial court for a substantive debate on the requested measures
• This trial could lead to stricter regulatory and operational changes for multinational companies regarding their environmental practices

💬 One quote: “The debate on the merits of the requested measures will be able to be held before the Paris judicial court,” stated the chamber, indicating the potential for significant legal developments

📈 One stat: The 82 North Sea oil and gas licences cover 226 areas, a third of which overlap with marine protected areas

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