Shelling Out?

A court in the Hague (Netherlands) has ruled that the Royal Dutch Shell petrochemicals company must reduce (compared to 2019 figures), its global carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/26/court-orders-royal-dutch-shell-to-cut-carbon-emissions-by-45-by-2030). The court's ruling was in response to an action brought by the Dutch chapter of Friends of the Earth and over 17,000 co-plaintiffs. The judge ruled that Royal Dutch Shell's duty of care could not be compromised by its commercial interests. She also noted that the company had been fully aware of the climate change consequences of its emissions for a long time. She also thought Shell's claimed sustainability policy was not 'concrete enough'. The judge effectively maintained that Royal Dutch Shell should ensure it achieved emissions cuts in line with the Paris agreement. It would be most helpful if other major petrochemicals companies, in other countries, received the same message. Hiding behind vague 'sustainability policies' (greenwash) should not be a viable option for any responsible organisation.