{"id":141235,"date":"2025-10-23T20:01:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T20:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/141235\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T20:01:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T20:01:07","slug":"french-court-penalizes-totalenergies-for-deceptive-greenwashing-claims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/141235\/","title":{"rendered":"French court penalizes TotalEnergies for deceptive greenwashing claims"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul data-testid=\"Summary\" class=\"summary-module__summary__QjADA\">\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Total ordered to pay 8,000 euros to each of three suing NGOs<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">Must remove carbon neutrality claims from website or face fines<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">First application of French greenwashing law to an energy firm<\/li>\n<li data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf summary-module__point__UgXPz\">EU-level greenwashing law stalled in negotiations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>PARIS, Oct 23 (Reuters) &#8211; Oil major TotalEnergies <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/companies\/TTEF.PA\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">(TTEF.PA), opens new tab<\/a> misled consumers in a 2021 ad campaign claiming it could become carbon neutral by 2050, a French civil court found on Thursday, in the first decision applying France&#8217;s greenwashing law to an energy company.<\/p>\n<p>The court ordered TotalEnergies to remove from its website all statements regarding carbon neutrality and the energy transition that were deemed misleading, and post a link to the legal decision for 180 days, or face penalties of up to 20,000 euros per day.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"promo-box\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\"> Sign up  <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/boards-policy-regulation\/french-court-rules-totalenergies-misled-consumers-with-carbon-neutrality-claims-2025-10-23\/undefined?location=article-paragraph&amp;redirectUrl=%2Fsustainability%2Fboards-policy-regulation%2Ffrench-court-rules-totalenergies-misled-consumers-with-carbon-neutrality-claims-2025-10-23%2F\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>It must also pay 8,000 euros ($9,330) in reparations to each of the three NGOs that brought the case &#8211; Friends of the Earth France, Greenpeace France, and Notre Affaire \u00e0 Tous \u2014 and pay 15,000 euros to cover their legal fees.<\/p>\n<p>TotalEnergies said the ruling targeted general mentions of its ambitions on its website, not specific ad campaigns for its electricity and gas in France.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;TotalEnergies &#8230; will draw the conclusions of this judgment regarding the content of its website,&#8221; it said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>PARIS ACCORDS REFERENCE DEEMED MISLEADING<\/p>\n<p>The court cited reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA), UN Environment Programme, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which stress the need for a rapid drop in emissions to meet Paris climate goals. The court particularly noted an IEA recommendation to halt development of new oil and gas fields.<\/p>\n<p>By referencing the Paris Accords without clarifying that its strategy includes expanding oil and gas production, Total misled consumers into believing that buying its products supported a low-carbon economy aligned with Paris goals, the court said.<\/p>\n<p>Three statements must be removed: Total\u2019s ambition \u201cto become a major actor in the energy transition\u201d and \u201ccarbon neutral by 2050, together with society\u201d; its claim to \u201cplace sustainability at the heart of its strategy in line with UN sustainable development objectives\u201d; and its goal to provide \u201cmore energy, less emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The court declined to rule on whether claims about emissions from natural gas and biofuels were misleading or whether Total\u2019s 2050 scenario was realistic.<\/p>\n<p>EU SCRUTINY OF GREENWASHING<\/p>\n<p>The NGOs called the ruling historic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is the first time in the world that a major oil and gas firm was found liable for misleading the public by greening its image,\u201d their statement said.<\/p>\n<p>As climate claims surge, the EU and other jurisdictions have moved to curb greenwashing, especially by financial firms. However, EU <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/sustainability\/climate-energy\/eu-halts-talks-law-tackling-companies-fake-green-claims-2025-06-23\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">talks have stalled<\/a> on penalties for misleading claims.Total <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/sustainable-business\/total-shareholders-back-rebrand-totalenergies-ceo-2021-05-28\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">changed its name<\/a> to TotalEnergies in 2021, pledging to cut emissions and invest in renewables while expanding oil and gas. Despite having 30 gigawatts of renewable capacity, over 97% of its 2024 income came from non-sustainable activities, EU disclosures show.A <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/french-prosecutor-investigates-greenwashing-allegations-against-totalenergies-2023-01-26\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">separate criminal investigation<\/a> by the Nanterre prosecutor\u2019s office is ongoing.<\/p>\n<p>($1 = 0.8575 euros)<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"SignOff\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 sign-off-module__text__LQAMP\">Reporting by America Hernandez and Inti Landauro. Editing by Mark Potter and Marguerita Choy<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__element__5eCce article-body-module__trust-badge__5mS3f\">Our Standards: <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/about-us\/trust-principles.html\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__small__sph8i link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersagency.com\/en\/licensereuterscontent\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"button-module__link__A3sD0 button-module__secondary__70gBu button-module__round__QDFgq button-module__w_auto__Sem-F\" data-testid=\"LicenceContentButton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Purchase Licensing Rights<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Total ordered to pay 8,000 euros to each of three suing NGOs Must remove carbon neutrality claims from&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":141236,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[269],"tags":[82566,83369,82499,83625,36586,52138,82760,82794,82500,30900,1802,83626,82543,82538,82545,82546,82535,82541,83619,82550,82776,82553,82536,82559,83391,82781,82783,83393,82802,83630,82528,82532,82711,83620,82555,83392,82777,82547,82539,82557,82537,82540,82554,82552,82551,18,55396,83627,83599,7520,83600,83601,83371,82571,440,20936,4893,82520,82522,32356,82527,45748,19,82765,17,82798,721,82768,82565,82507,66509,83628,45751,83602,83603,82508,83376,82510,83604,83605,83002,82964,83613,83623,83364,83622,83624,83612,83614,83621,83615,82558,83606,83607,83616,82756,83365,82778,83363,83361,133,83608,15170,82534,83368,83618,83617,82563,83366,82564,83367,82533,83609,83610,83629,82518,83611],"class_list":{"0":"post-141235","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-environment","8":"tag-agri","9":"tag-awlq","10":"tag-bact","11":"tag-biof","12":"tag-biz","13":"tag-cla","14":"tag-clc","15":"tag-clj","16":"tag-cmpny","17":"tag-co2","18":"tag-com","19":"tag-cru","20":"tag-destabn","21":"tag-destabx","22":"tag-destafa","23":"tag-destbnx","24":"tag-destcsa","25":"tag-deste","26":"tag-destele","27":"tag-destfun","28":"tag-destg","29":"tag-destgns","30":"tag-destlby","31":"tag-destlita","32":"tag-desto","33":"tag-destoenr","34":"tag-destoenv","35":"tag-destoil","36":"tag-destolit","37":"tag-destoprod","38":"tag-destoukbsm","39":"tag-destouktpm","40":"tag-destousesg","41":"tag-destousnrg","42":"tag-destpco","43":"tag-destpen","44":"tag-destpge","45":"tag-destpsc","46":"tag-destrast","47":"tag-destrbn","48":"tag-destreulb","49":"tag-destrnp","50":"tag-destrws","51":"tag-destrwsa","52":"tag-destucdptest","53":"tag-eire","54":"tag-emea","55":"tag-emeae","56":"tag-ener","57":"tag-energy","58":"tag-enff","59":"tag-eng","60":"tag-enr","61":"tag-env","62":"tag-environment","63":"tag-esg","64":"tag-eu","65":"tag-europ","66":"tag-ezc","67":"tag-fin","68":"tag-fr","69":"tag-gen","70":"tag-ie","71":"tag-intag","72":"tag-ireland","73":"tag-judic","74":"tag-legal","75":"tag-mngiss","76":"tag-mtpix","77":"tag-news1","78":"tag-ngo","79":"tag-ngs","80":"tag-nrg","81":"tag-oilg","82":"tag-oili","83":"tag-pol","84":"tag-prod","85":"tag-publ","86":"tag-pwr","87":"tag-pwrgen","88":"tag-pxp","89":"tag-regs","90":"tag-repiexploration-production","91":"tag-repifuel","92":"tag-repifuel-oil","93":"tag-repigas","94":"tag-repigovernance","95":"tag-repigrid-infrastructure","96":"tag-repisolar","97":"tag-repitransport-fuels","98":"tag-repiwind","99":"tag-reuters-legal","100":"tag-rnw","101":"tag-rnwpwr","102":"tag-rsbiclean-energy","103":"tag-rsbiclimate-change","104":"tag-rsbiclimate-solutions","105":"tag-rsbipolitical-lobbying","106":"tag-rsbiregulatory-oversight","107":"tag-rsbisustainable-markets","108":"tag-science","109":"tag-solpwr","110":"tag-sustainable-business","111":"tag-topcmb","112":"tag-topicenergy-oil-gas","113":"tag-topicenergy-power","114":"tag-topicenergy-transition","115":"tag-topicmarkets-commodities-agriculture","116":"tag-topicmarkets-commodities-energy","117":"tag-topicreuters-impact-top-stories","118":"tag-topicsustasinability-the-switch","119":"tag-topnws","120":"tag-util","121":"tag-utim","122":"tag-utlreg","123":"tag-weu","124":"tag-winpwr"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation 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