In a world where even the courts seem to be looking the other way, Shell continues its merry dance, spewing emissions while promising a greener tomorrow. Will they ever be held accountable? Don’t hold your breath – unless you’re near one of their refineries, that is.

Posted by John Donovan: 15 November 2023

In what reads like a plot from a dystopian novel, Shell, the poster child for ‘do as I say, not as I do’, has just wriggled out of a groundbreaking lawsuit. The Court of Appeal, in a move that screams “business as usual,” refused to hear ClientEarth’s lawsuit against Shell’s Board of Directors. This legal battle was a first-of-its-kind attempt to make directors pay for climate risk mismanagement. Talk about a missed chance to make corporate bigwigs sweat!

ClientEarth, wearing the cape of environmental justice, argued that Shell’s board was playing fast and loose with the planet’s future. But the High Court of England and Wales brushed off the lawsuit faster than Shell can say “oil spill.” Paul Benson from ClientEarth, sounding like someone who’s just watched their ice cream fall to the ground, said, “We are deeply disappointed by this decision.” He called it a lost opportunity to tackle the mammoth issue of climate crisis head-on.

Shell, with its “Energy Transition Strategy,” claims it’s on track to be a net-zero emissions business by 2050. But, spoiler alert: Independent assessments say that’s a bunch of hot air. Their plan conveniently leaves out those pesky scope 3 emissions – the ones that account for over 90% of their total emissions. It’s like going on a diet but only cutting out carrots while you binge on cake.

The lawsuit’s dismissal has Shell probably throwing a party, as they’ve effectively dodged legal scrutiny of their climate strategy. Meanwhile, ClientEarth, backed by investors holding a whopping 12 million shares in Shell, is left shaking their heads. These investors had hoped the lawsuit would serve Shell a slice of humble pie, but no such luck.

As for the courts, they argued that ClientEarth, being an environmental legal organization, couldn’t possibly have the company’s best interests at heart. Because, obviously, wanting to save the planet is such a radical idea, right?

Benson lamented the courts’ failure to address the crux of the issue – Shell’s management of climate risks. It seems like Shell has managed to slither away from the spotlight yet again.

In a world where even the courts seem to be looking the other way, Shell continues its merry dance, spewing emissions while promising a greener tomorrow. Will they ever be held accountable? Don’t hold your breath – unless you’re near one of their refineries, that is.

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