The New York Times

Lawmaker Threatens to Subpoena Exxon After Secret Video

The chairman of a powerful House subcommittee said he is seeking answers from Exxon and other oil and gas giants over their role in spreading disinformation on climate change.

By Hiroko Tabuchi and Lisa Friedman

The chairman of a House subcommittee is demanding that executives of Exxon Mobil Corp., Shell, Chevron and other major oil and gas companies testify before Congress about the industry’s decades-long effort to wage disinformation campaigns around climate change. read more

The Guardian

Big oil and gas kept a dirty secret for decades. Now they may pay the price

Chris McGreal: Wed 30 Jun 2021 08.00 BST

The environmentalist Bill McKibben once characterized the fossil fuel industry’s behavior as “the most consequential cover-up in US history”. And now for the first time in decades, the lawsuits chart a path toward public accountability that climate activists say has the potential to rival big tobacco’s downfall after it concealed the real dangers of smoking.

“We are at an inflection point,” said Daniel Farber, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley and director of the Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment. read more

independent.co.uk

Clean energy is the future – so why are some investors still supporting the dying fossil fuel economy?

Institutional forces continue to prop up the fossil fuel economy, while both the market and public opinion are leaving it behind. This is as foolish as it is dangerous, writes Tom Steyer: 29 June 2021

As far as climate action goes, May 2021 was a big deal. The trend towards clean energy and away from fossil fuels exploded. Exxon Mobil, the biggest oil company in America, lost a proxy battle and now three climate activists will sit on its board. A Dutch court set new and stringent rules for energy companies, including Royal Dutch Shell. The German Supreme Court ordered all of Germany to step up its climate game significantly by 2030. read more

BBC NEWS

Climate change: Courts set for rise in compensation cases

By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent: 28 JUne 2021

There’s likely to be a significant increase in the number of lawsuits brought against fossil fuel companies in the coming years, say researchers.

Their new study finds that to date, lawyers have failed to use the most up-to-date scientific evidence on the cause of rising temperatures.

As a result, there have been few successful claims for compensation.

That could change, say the authors, as evidence linking specific weather events to carbon emissions increases. read more

Oil and gas firms could face fresh legal action by activist groups as investors demand stock market-listed firms align with Paris climate goals

By HARRIET DENNYS, FINANCIAL MAIL ON SUNDAY

PUBLISHED: 21:50, 26 June 2021 | UPDATED: 22:45, 26 June 2021

Major oil and gas firms including BP and Shell could face fresh legal action by activist groups as investors demand stock market-listed firms align with Paris climate goals.

The wave of potential lawsuits could also target Chevron and Exxon and other heavy industry majors such as Ineos, the petrochemicals giant controlled by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, and biomass power firm Drax. read more

THE NATIONAL LAW REVIEW

The Dutch Decision on Shell’s Carbon Emissions – Should U.S. Companies Be Worried?

On May 26, 2021, a Dutch court ordered Royal Dutch Shell Plc (“Shell”) to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 45% (from 2019 levels) by 2030. Shell had previously pledged to reduce its emissions by 20% (from 2016 levels) by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The Dutch court held that this commitment was insufficient based on the “very serious threat” that Shell’s carbon emissions pose to Dutch residents. read more

General Motors and Shell Offer Renewable Energy Solutions to U.S. Homeowners, EV Owners and Suppliers

Program includes current offerings that can help expand access to renewable energy for GM’s customers and suppliers in Texas, and free renewable energy charging hours for GM’s EV owners in the coming months

NEWS PROVIDED BY

General Motors Co. 

Jun 23, 2021, 09:00 ET

DETROIT, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — General Motors and Shell, through its wholly owned subsidiary MP2 Energy, LLC (“Shell”),  are collaborating to provide comprehensive energy solutions programs to GM’s customers and supply chain partners, including fixed-rate home energy plans backed by 100 percent renewable energy resources. read more

Activists ‘threatened with arrest’ for anti-Shell demo at Science Museum

An open letter to the Science Museum published on UKSCN’s website states: “The fact that Shell, a company with a vested interest in the continued use of fossil fuels, is financially supporting an exhibition about climate change solutions is appalling.

The London branch of the UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN London) organised a demonstration at the famous landmark in protest at its decision to accept sponsorship from fossil fuel giant Shell. read more

The Guardian: Shell chief vows to bolster emissions strategy after court ruling

Ben van Beurden pledges to ‘rise to challenge’ after court ordered oil firm to cut global carbon emissions by 45%

Joanna Partridge: Wed 9 Jun 2021 18.21 BST

Royal Dutch Shell has vowed to accelerate its strategy towards becoming a net zero emissions business, two weeks after a Dutch court ruling ordered the company to cut its global carbon emissions by 45% by the end of 2030 compared with 2019 levels.

Shell’s chief executive, Ben van Beurden, promised to “rise to the challenge” in helping to create a low-carbon energy system, but came out fighting for the Anglo-Dutch oil company he runs, insisting it has been leading the industry in taking responsibility for its carbon emissions. read more

THE GUARDIAN

It’s time to nationalize Shell.

Private oil companies are no longer fit for purpose

By Johanna Bozuwa and Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò: Mon 7 June 2021

It has been a bad month for big oil. A Dutch court just ruled that Shell must cut its carbon pollution by 45% by 2030. The court’s decision has rightly been celebrated: it is a much more stringent requirement than the ineffective regulations imposed to date.

Private oil and gas companies are finally up against the wall. Shell has promised to appeal the Dutch court decision, but oil prices went negative last year and put companies on bankruptcy notice… read more

ICIS

Extracts from: Friends of the Earth v Royal Dutch Shell – what did the Dutch Court rule, and what does it mean for Shell’s business?

by Paul Hodges on 6th June 2021 in Oil markets

The Court’s decision
The District Court of The Hague made a landmark ruling on 26 May in the case made collectively by the Dutch Friends of Earth (Milieudefensie) and other NGOs versus Royal Dutch Shell (“Shell” or “RDS”) on the issue of whether Dutch law required Shell to limit its CO2 emissions: read more

THE

HILL

Fossil fuels are definitively the new tobacco

BY ANDREAS KARELAS, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR — 06/07/21 10:05 AM EDT 

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY CONTRIBUTORS ARE THEIR OWN AND NOT THE VIEW OF THE HILL

Former hedge fund manager, host of CNBC’s “Mad Money” and investment guru Jim Cramer declared in January of last year he was “done with fossil fuels… we’re in the death knell phase. They’re tobacco.”

Not everyone was so sure about this at that time — but now there’s no disputing it. Fossil fuels are definitively the new tobacco, and we are witnessing a historic moment in real-time: The end of the fossil fuel age. Here are the latest markers of the fossil fuel industry’s accelerating implosion.  read more

fd.

Five questions about the meaning of the Shell judgment

It was a statement that shook the so-called BV Netherlands for a while. A stone in the pond. Shell must reduce its CO₂ emissions faster than it does now, the judge ruled a week ago. Five questions about the next steps.

In brief

• Last week, the judge ruled that Shell must reduce its CO₂ emissions more quickly.
• A week after the Shell verdict, there are still many questions.
• There is also much speculation about next steps.

1. Does this ruling affect Shell worldwide?
Shell must reduce CO₂ emissions faster, the judge ruled. The statements apply to the entire group, i.e. worldwide, although there are some exceptions, such as the part of the emissions that falls under the Emission Trade System (ETS) system. read more

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

‘Wolf pack’ attack win opens the door for more turmoil

June 1, 2021: The success of the activist shareholder assault on the Exxon board last week, along with a court ruling ordering Royal Dutch Shell to cut its carbon emissions faster than planned and a majority of Chevron shareholders voting for a reduction in its “scope three” emissions have been depicted as victories for climate activists.

While the Shell decision clearly fits into that category (although it will appeal) and Chevron probably also squeezes in, the Exxon experience isn’t quite as clear cut and illustrates the confusion and conflict, for companies and investors, that flow from the increasing aggression and impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) funds. read more

REUTERS

Dutch court ruling to lead to Shell’s shrinking -analysts

Ron Bousso: May 27, 2021

A Dutch court ruling ordering Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) to speed up its plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions could lead to a 12% decline in the company’s energy output, including a sharp drop in oil and gas sales, analysts said on Thursday.

FULL ARTICLE (PAYWALL)

nbc news/Reuters

Climate activists score wins against Exxon, Shell and Chevron

“Today was a stark warning for Big Oil,” said Bess Joffe, of the Church Commissioners for England, with executives “being held to account by investors and lawmakers.”

It has not been a good few days for Big Oil.

Shareholders Wednesday rebuked the top two U.S. oil companies for dragging their feet on fighting climate change, while a Dutch court ruled that Royal Dutch Shell needs to accelerate cuts to greenhouse gas emissions. read more