TotalEnergies Appeals French Court Ruling Expanding Climate Duty of Vigilance
TotalEnergies has filed an appeal against a June 25 ruling by the Paris Judicial Court, which interpreted France's duty of vigilance law to impose corporate responsibility for climate-related impacts. The company argues that this interpretation extends beyond the intended scope of the law and places undue obligations on businesses in sectors like energy. TotalEnergies maintains that addressing global issues such as climate change should be handled by governments through international cooperation, not via legal frameworks targeting corporations. The court ruling was brought forward by environmental groups challenging corporate responsibility for emissions from product use rather than direct operations. The company emphasized it cannot control how consumers utilize its products and pointed to the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), which does not extend due diligence obligations to customer activities. TotalEnergies also highlighted concerns about legal certainty, freedom of business, and sector-specific challenges in managing risks from consumer behavior. The appeal will now be reviewed by the Paris Court of Appeal, where the company plans to present its arguments regarding the law's interpretation and application.
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Topics: climate change duty of vigilance law TotalEnergies appeal