A court in the Netherlands has accused the oil company Royal Dutch Shell of being responsible for the climate crisis. The judgment requires the multinational to reduce its CO2 emissions by 45% within ten years. The ruling, issued on 26 May last, took place following the request of the organisation Amigos de la Tierra, which explained that it has opened the way to the repetition of "climatic causes" in other countries. Climate movements have described it as a historic victory.

"Shell is the cause of climate change and must immediately suspend its devastating conduct," the court said in a statement issued by Europe Press. Friends of the Earth have described it as a "turning point in history" the first time a court has forced a large polluting company to comply with the Paris Agreement.

The Dutch court believes that oil is one of the factors contributing to climate change. The judgment considers the oil company to be responsible for the emissions of its customers and suppliers and points out that countercyclical activity is an attack on the right to life and quiet family life. In this regard, it has ensured that the company’s model poses a threat of human rights violations.

The Friend of the Earth, along with other groups such as Greenpeace, denounced Shell for the ecological damage it caused in 2019. The process began in April 2020, when environmental organisations handed over the judicial summons. The target then indicated was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. In this way, they demanded that they join in the global commitment to comply with the Paris Agreement in order not to exceed 1.5°C of global warming. In fact, agents believe that the business model of this corporation "posed a serious threat to the objectives of the Paris Convention against climate change." However, they have stated that it is only the beginning and that their intention is to continue to denounce and win, and that the result is positive.

The Dutch director of Friends of the Earth, Donald Pols, has stated that "it is a tremendous victory for our planet and for our children, an essential milestone in achieving a livable future." Environmental promoter lawyer Roger Cox, for his part, said: "This judgment will have consequences for other large polluting companies", he added.