Shell faces Dutch court pollution case brought forward by environmentalists

Royal Dutch Shell to face a Dutch court on Tuesday on a case brought forward by environmentalists demanding a reduction in oil companies' involvement with fossil fuels.

Seven activist groups, including Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth Netherlands, filed the lawsuit in April 2019 on behalf of over 17,000 Dutch citizens who demand that Shell cuts its greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

The activists claim that Shell threatens human rights by undermining international climate goals as it continues to invest in fossil fuel projects.

“We are confident that the judge’s final verdict will force Shell to adhere to international climate goals and stop causing dangerous climate change”, Friends of the Earth Netherlands director Donald Pols said on the eve of the hearing.

Shell claims that it supports the goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement and committed to cut the carbon intensity of its energy products by 30% by 2035 and by 65% in 2050 (compared to 2016 levels)

The action groups demand at least a 45% reduction by 2030.