French climate lawsuit offers a window into the next round of the global legal fight

A court ruling expands the options for corporate accountability efforts against oil companies in France, and it may have repercussions in the US and elsewhere.

By: Aminta Ossom, Harvard University; Harvard Kennedy School, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 28, 2026

Words: 844

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

Body Text Preview

By Aminta Ossom, Harvard University; Harvard Kennedy School

A recent decision by a French court requires a major European oil and gas company to report not only its own climate-warming emissions and those of its contractors but also those of its customers, who burn the oil and petroleum products the company sells.

The court’s ruling against TotalEnergies, under a French law passed in 2017, expands a growing front in the global legal fight against …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us