A Masterclass in Dodging Climate Accountability
Posted by John Donovan: 6 Feb 25
In an absolutely shocking turn of events (read: completely expected corporate fuckery), Shell has successfully weaseled its way out of a court-ordered mandate to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. Yes, you read that right—the Hague Court of Appeal just handed down a judgment on November 12, 2024, that reverses the original ruling, meaning Shell and its lovely band of polluters get to continue business as usual. Oh, and to rub salt into the wound, the claimants—led by Dutch environmental activist group Vereniging Milieudefensie—now have to pay Shell’s legal costs. Because why shouldn’t an oil behemoth worth hundreds of billions shake down environmentalists for cash?
But before Shell’s shareholders at BlackRock and Vanguard start popping champagne over yet another successful evasion of climate responsibility, let’s talk about what the court did uphold. The judges agreed that there is a fundamental human right to be protected from the catastrophic effects of climate change. They even acknowledged that this right can be enforced against corporations like Shell. Sounds promising, right?
Well, not so fast. While the court admitted that investing in new oil and gas projects might breach Shell’s legal duties (might—because apparently torching the planet isn’t quite enough evidence), they conveniently decided there wasn’t enough proof to force Shell to meet the specific reduction targets demanded by the plaintiffs. You know, the same 45% reduction that the entire scientific community agrees is necessary to prevent complete climate collapse.
Of course, Shell’s legal victory doesn’t change the fact that it remains one of the world’s most shameless purveyors of environmental destruction. Let’s not forget: this is the same company that spent decades funding climate denial, only to pivot to greenwashing when public pressure became inconvenient. Now, when actually held accountable, they pull out the legal playbook and dodge their obligations. Classic Shell.
As for what’s next, the claimants may take this fight to the Dutch Supreme Court. But let’s be real—until governments decide to treat Shell and its fellow carbon-spewing giants as the existential threats they are, the cycle will repeat. Meanwhile, the planet keeps warming, Shell keeps drilling, and BlackRock and Vanguard keep counting their money.
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