Skip to content
Oil Change International | Data Driven, People Powered. Oil Change International | Data Driven, People Powered.
  • About
    • Our Work
    • Values
    • Team
    • Jobs at OCI
    • Ways to Give
  • Program Areas
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • North Sea
    • United States
    • Global Industry
    • Global Public Finance
    • Global Policy
  • Blog
  • Press Releases
  • Publications
Donate
  • Get Updates
    • Share on Bluesky Share on Bluesky Bluesky (opens in a new window)
    • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter Twitter (opens in a new window)
    • Share on Instagram Share on Instagram Instagram (opens in a new window)
    • Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn LinkedIn (opens in a new window)
    • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook Facebook (opens in a new window)
Donate
  • About
    • Our Work
    • Values
    • Team
    • Jobs at OCI
    • Ways to Give
  • Program Areas
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • North Sea
    • United States
    • Global Industry
    • Global Public Finance
    • Global Policy
  • Blog
  • Press Releases
  • Publications
    • Get Updates
    • Share on Bluesky Bluesky
    • Share on Twitter Twitter
    • Share on Instagram Instagram
    • Share on LinkedIn LinkedIn
    • Share on Facebook Facebook
Go to OCI Homepage
Current Affairs
Published: May 27, 2021

“Tears of Joy:” Activists Win Landmark Climate Case against Shell in the Netherlands

“This is a massive win for people all around the world. The Court’s ruling is crystal clear. Oil and gas companies can no longer hide behind empty climate promises and green PR. They will need to cut oil and gas production and sales to bring their emissions down in line with 1.5°C.”

  • Latest from OCI
  • Blogs listing
  • “Tears of Joy:” Activists Win Landmark Climate Case against Shell in the Netherlands
    • Blog Post Climate change climate change impacts Current Affairs Litigation Shell
Andy Rowell

When not blogging for OCI, Andy is a freelance writer and journalist specializing in environmental issues.

[email protected]

C: Milieudefensie / Friends of the Earth Netherlands

Sometimes the word historic or landmark is overused. But not in this case.

In a legal judgement that will be equally celebrated by climate activists worldwide and feared in Big Oil boardrooms, for the first time in history, a judge has held a corporation liable for causing dangerous climate change. And that company is Shell.

Yesterday, as a result of legal action brought by Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) together with a staggering 17,000 co-plaintiffs, a court in The Hague in the Netherlands ruled that Shell must reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% compared to 2019 levels within 10 years.

The Judge in the case, Larisa Alwin, ruled that the oil giant must “at once” reduce its CO2 output, adding that the case would have “far-reaching consequences” for Shell, maybe even curbing “the potential growth of the Shell group”.

She added that even if the obligation might have far-reaching consequences for Shell, “the interest served with the reduction obligation outweighs the Shell group’s commercial interests.”

This historic verdict will have serious and far implications for Shell and other big polluters globally.

Roger Cox, lawyer for Friends of the Earth Netherlands, was jubilant with the verdict: “This is a turning point in history. This case is unique because it is the first time a judge has ordered a large polluting corporation to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement. This ruling may also have major consequences for other big polluters.”

Other commentators agreed with FOE. CNN reported that the decision “could have far reaching consequences for oil companies … The verdict could pave the way for similar cases to be brought in other countries, forcing oil companies to reduce fossil fuel production.”

Bloomberg Green added “The Shell verdict could have a powerful ripple effect, not least among its European peers including BP Plc and Total SE. Those companies have set similar emissions targets, which have also been criticized by campaigners for not going far enough.”

Experts agreed too. Angus Walker, an environmental lawyer at BDP Pitmans in London, told Bloomberg: “This is big news for carbon emitters everywhere, not just in the oil industry. This may spread from large emitters to small, and from the Netherlands to other countries, at least in terms of challenges, if not successful ones.”

Eric De Brabandere, a Professor of International Dispute Settlement at Leiden University in the Netherlands told CNN: “I can imagine this will inspire a series of other cases against companies, especially those active in the oil extraction industries like Shell.  It is a groundbreaking decision, it’s really a landmark.”

Indeed, there are already 1,800 climate change lawsuits being fought in courtrooms around the world. And now there will be many more.

It is not surprising that Twitter exploded with delight after the judgment.

Historic win & tears of joy. As Court orders Shell to reduce its CO2 emissions, the judge leaves no room for doubt: Shell is contributing to dangerous #ClimateChange & must stop its destructive behaviour now. #StopShell Congratulations @milieudefensie. pic.twitter.com/LV2Q6uSyqx

— Friends of the Earth International (@FoEint) May 26, 2021

https://twitter.com/Patagorda/status/1397549019103174656

Wow, Wow, Wow–Dutch court orders Shell to cut the absolute level of its carbon emissions almost in half by 2030. This could be game-changinghttps://t.co/NOtiJVOZoM

— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) May 26, 2021

Oil Change International campaigner, Laurie van der Burg, who before joining OCI worked on the Shell climate case for three years at Milieudefensie says: “This is a massive win for people all around the world. The Court’s ruling is crystal clear. Oil and gas companies can no longer hide behind empty climate promises and green PR. They will need to cut oil and gas production and sales to bring their emissions down in line with 1.5°C.”

Van der Burg added: “Shell is considering to appeal, but it should think twice. It might face an even stronger ruling in the Supreme Court, like the Dutch State did when it appealed the initial ruling in the Urgenda climate case.”

 

 

 

 

Oil Change International | Data Driven, People Powered.
Donate Get Updates
Back to the top
  • Keep in touch

  • Oil Change International
    714 G St. SE, #202
    Washington, DC 20003
    United States

    +1.202.518.9029

    [email protected]

    • Share on Bluesky Bluesky (opens in a new window)
    • Share on Twitter Twitter (opens in a new window)
    • Share on Instagram Instagram (opens in a new window)
    • Share on LinkedIn LinkedIn (opens in a new window)
    • Share on Facebook Facebook (opens in a new window)
  • Quick links

  • About OCI
  • Our Values
  • Jobs at OCI
  • Ways to Give
  • Media Centre

  • Publications
  • Press
  • Associated websites

  • Big Oil Reality Check
  • Energy Finance Database
  • Permian Climate Bomb
  • Site map
  • Privacy policy

Copyright © 2025 Oil Change International. Web design by Fat Beehive