The lawsuit filed in May 2024 by three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and eight individuals against TotalEnergies was dismissed on February 7, 2025, by the Paris judicial court. The plaintiffs, supported by the NGOs Bloom, Alliance Santé Planétaire, and Nuestro Futuro, accused the French oil giant of contributing to climate change and its fatal impacts on humanity and the environment. The infractions mentioned in the lawsuit included involuntary manslaughter and harm to biodiversity.
The public prosecutor justified the decision by citing a lack of concrete evidence establishing a direct link between the company’s activities and the severe climatic events that allegedly caused deaths. In particular, the notion of causality between greenhouse gas emissions from TotalEnergies and natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, or storms was deemed too complex to result in a conviction. The prosecutor also noted that while greenhouse gas emissions are indeed harmful, they do not constitute an illegal activity per se.
This lawsuit targeted not only TotalEnergies but also several of its shareholders, such as BlackRock and Norges Bank, as well as its executives, including CEO Patrick Pouyanné. The plaintiffs, hailing from various countries including France, Pakistan, Greece, and Australia, claimed to have been victims of natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. They had sought recognition as victims to pursue criminal proceedings.
Dismissal Sparks Reactions
The prosecutor’s decision immediately provoked reactions from the plaintiff NGOs. Aymeric Thillaye du Boullay, head of litigation at the NGO Bloom, lamented the “impotence of the French criminal justice system” in the face of major oil companies. He cited a “disconnection between legal criteria and the realities of climate change,” calling for a reform of the legal framework to better address the challenges posed by greenhouse gas emissions.
In response, TotalEnergies stated that it took note of the decision, emphasizing that it would continue its commitment to energy transition. The group, the fourth largest oil and gas player in the world, continues to allocate a significant portion of its investments to fossil fuels while seeking to diversify into low-carbon energy, particularly through wind and solar projects.
A Context of Multiple Legal Actions
This lawsuit is part of a series of ongoing legal actions against TotalEnergies, particularly in France, where the company is also accused of “greenwashing” and “climaticide.” The company is regularly criticized by environmental defenders, who believe its green transition efforts are insufficient.
The oil and gas sector, one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, remains at the center of increasing debates regarding its responsibility for global warming. Future judicial decisions concerning TotalEnergies and other major players in this sector could have significant implications for how large companies manage their environmental impact.
