TotalEnergies has welcomed the decision of the Paris Judicial Court in a climate-related legal case brought by several associations and the City of Paris, describing the ruling as an important clarification of the scope of France’s duty of vigilance law. The legal action sought to require the company to halt the development of new oil and gas projects and reduce its hydrocarbon production.
However, the Court rejected those requests, concluding that the duty of vigilance legislation does not impose responsibility on individual companies for the global risks associated with climate change resulting from cumulative human activity since the Industrial Revolution. The Court also determined that it is not the role of the judiciary to establish specific climate targets for TotalEnergies.
The company stated that the judgment acknowledges the measures already incorporated into its vigilance plan to identify and manage climate-related risks. The Court recognised that TotalEnergies has outlined actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations, commonly referred to as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and has established measurable objectives extending to 2030.
According to the company, its operational emissions have fallen by 28 percent since 2015. During the same period, methane emissions have been reduced by 65 percent since 2020 through targeted operational improvements and emissions management initiatives.
While expressing satisfaction with the overall outcome, TotalEnergies also acknowledged the Court’s request to expand its vigilance plan by including measures related to Scope 3 emissions, which are generated through the use of the company’s products by customers. The company confirmed that it will revise its vigilance plan accordingly, drawing on information already presented in its Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) sustainability report.
TotalEnergies said the updated plan will further detail initiatives designed to support customers in lowering their carbon footprint. These include continued investments in electricity generation, renewable power, biofuels and other lower-carbon energy solutions intended to diversify the company’s energy portfolio and assist customers in reducing emissions over time.
The company reiterated its objective of reducing the carbon intensity of the energy products it sells by 25 percent by 2030 compared with 2015 levels. By the end of 2025, TotalEnergies reported that it had already achieved an 18 percent reduction toward that target.
The company also noted that customer-related emissions depend largely on individual investment and consumption decisions, including the adoption of electric vehicles, heat pumps and lower-carbon fuels such as E90 and HVO100. Following the Court’s decision, TotalEnergies said it will evaluate the appropriate next steps while continuing to strengthen its climate strategy and update its vigilance framework in line with regulatory expectations.
