The Paris Judicial Court ruled Thursday that TotalEnergies (TTE) must update its climate vigilance plan within six months to address Scope 3 emissions under France's corporate duty of vigilance law.
The court found that climate risks linked to TotalEnergies' operations fall within the scope of the 2017 duty of vigilance law.
The court said TotalEnergies' vigilance plan is incomplete because it does not include Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions.
Judges said Scope 3 emissions form part of the group's activities under the law. The ruling noted that extracting, refining and selling oil inevitably leads to combustion and carbon dioxide emissions.
The court ordered TotalEnergies to revise its risk mapping to include Scope 3 emissions and related mitigation measures within six months. It scheduled the next hearing for Jan. 21, 2027, to review the updated vigilance plan.
However, the court stopped short of imposing specific emissions-reduction measures or requiring particular climate targets. It said the law allows judges to review whether vigilance measures are reasonable and effective, not to dictate detailed corporate actions.
The case stems from a 2020 lawsuit filed by Notre Affaire a Tous, Sherpa, ZEA, France Nature Environnement and the City of Paris, which argued TotalEnergies should identify climate risks and align its vigilance plan with the Paris Agreement.
The court also postponed ruling on the plaintiffs' environmental damage claims until it reviews the revised vigilance plan. It said companies must act in line with their contribution to climate-related risks, although the law does not make them responsible for climate change itself.
France's 2017 duty of vigilance law requires large companies to establish, publish and implement plans that identify and prevent serious risks to human rights, health, safety and the environment across their operations, subsidiaries, contractors and suppliers.
TotalEnergies did not immediately reply to' request for comment.
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