(Alliance News) - TotalEnergies SE goes on trial in Paris on Thursday over allegations of misleading climate claims, an unprecedented "greenwashing" case against a fossil fuel firm in France.

The civil case stems from a March 2022 lawsuit by three environmental groups accusing the Courbevoie, France-based oil and gas firm of "misleading commercial practices" for saying it could reach carbon neutrality while continuing oil and gas production.

Starting in May 2021, TotalEnergies advertised its goal of "carbon neutrality by 2050" and touted gas as "the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions". 

At the time, the company had also changed its name from Total to TotalEnergies to emphasise its investments in low-carbon energy, such as electricity.

The plaintiffs have logged around 40 "false advertisements" in their lawsuit.

The ads "don't sincerely reflect the reality of TotalEnergies' operations", Apolline Cagnat, a legal counsel at Greenpeace, told AFP.

Cagnat said the NGOs want the court to send a "strong signal" to fossil fuel companies by ordering "an immediate stop, under penalty, of the misleading commercial practices".

TotalEnergies disputes the charges, insisting the messages are part of its institutional communication, regulated by financial authorities – not consumer law. 

It argues no consumer organisation is party to the case, and that the NGOs are misusing consumer protection rules to challenge its corporate strategy.

Environmental groups in recent years have turned to the courts to establish case law on companies misleading consumers by appearing more eco-friendly than they are.

In Europe, courts ruled against Dutch airline KLM in 2024 and Cologne, Germany-based Deutsche Lufthansa AG in March over misleading consumers about their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of flying. 

In Spain, utility Iberdrola SA failed to secure a conviction against Madrid-based oil and gas company Repsol AG over similar allegations of "false" environmental claims.

A greenwashing case against Adelaide, Australia-based oil and gas producer Santos Ltd, challenging its claim to be a "clean fuels" company, has been ongoing since 2021.

Based on an EU directive targeting unfair commercial practices, the TotalEnergies lawsuit is the first time a French court has heard such a case against a fossil fuel company.

The NGOs said the Paris court will rule, for the first time in the world, on the legality of ads presenting gas as essential to the energy transition.

Climate experts say methane leaks from the gas industry have a powerful warming effect on the atmosphere.

TotalEnergies maintains it has not engaged in misleading commercial practices.

The company says it plans to show that its messages "about its name change, strategy and role in the energy transition are reliable and based on objective, verifiable data".

TotalEnergies shares were 0.1% higher at EUR52.30 each on Thursday morning in Paris, giving it a market capitalisation of EUR117.82 billion.

By Nathalie Alonso

source: AFP

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