THE HAGUE: Oil giant Shell announced on Tuesday it will appeal a Dutch ruling which ordered it to slash greenhouse gas emissions, saying a “judgement against a single company is not effective” to curb climate change.
The Hague District Court in late May ruled that the Anglo-Dutch fuel maker must reduce carbon emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 as it was contributing to the 'dire' effects of climate change. “We agree urgent action is needed and we will accelerate our transition to net zero. But we will appeal because a court judgement, against a single company, is not effective,” Shell CEO Ben van Beurden said.
Dubbed 'the People versus Shell', the case was backed by seven environmental groups and more than 17,000 Dutch citizens.
Campaigners hailed the landmark May 26 verdict, saying it would have global implications for energy firms and that it was the first time a company had been ordered to align its policy with the 2015 climate accords.
Shell however said it had its own plans, called the 'Powering Progress' strategy to become a net-zero emissions business by 2050.
This was “in step with society’s progress towards the goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change,” Shell said. — AFP
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