US EditionTotalEnergies Faces Ruling in Belgian Farmer Climate Case
Belgium's first climate case against a multinational seeks €130,000 damages and broader fossil fuel investment cuts, pending a related Paris case ruling in June.
- A Belgian judge will rule Wednesday in a landmark lawsuit brought by Hainaut farmer Hugues Falys against French oil giant TotalEnergies, marking the first time a citizen has sued a multinational company in Belgium.
- Falys claims four extreme weather events between 2016 and 2020 destroyed his crops and harmed cattle, leading him to seek 130,000 euros in damages with support from Greenpeace, LDH, and FIAN.
- Company lawyer Francoise Labrousse argued that "TotalEnergies doesn't sell tractors, cars or boilers," while the firm called it "absurd" to single them out as they account for less than two percent of the oil and gas sector.
- Reflecting a David-versus-Goliath struggle, the lawsuit follows the Dutch "People vs. Shell" case, which saw an initial victory against Shell overturned three years later on appeal.
- Aiming for "reparation and transformation," Falys and his backers await today's verdict at 2:00 pm , hoping the ruling will hold the multinational accountable for climate damages.
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Hugues Falys accuses the oil group of having had an impact on its activity by promoting global warming. The Court of Tournai decided to rule after the trial against the company in France, whose judgement is expected in June.
Newsbug.info
Belgian court suspends TotalEnergies climate trial
A Belgian court Wednesday adjourned a case pitting TotalEnergies against a farmer seeking compensation for climate-change damage, pending the outcome of a separate trial against the French energy giant in Paris.
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TotalEnergies faces ruling in Belgian farmer climate case
A Belgian judge will rule Wednesday in a closely watched case pitting French oil giant TotalEnergies against a farmer seeking compensation for damage to his farm caused by climate change.
The Tribunal de l'entreprise de Tournai has recognised that the legal action brought by the Farmer Case is admissible. This is a major step forward because this court decision recognizes that victims of climate change can bring a case to court in their own country, even if the company in question is not based on it. On the merits, the court of the company decides to stay the decision: this means that it awaits the decision at first instance of t…
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