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Shell court ruling is a wake-up call for governments to end fossil fuel support
(The Conversation, 30 Jun 2021) In a groundbreaking ruling, a Dutch court recently held Shell responsible for its role in the climate crisis, ordering it to reduce its emissions by 45% in under ten years.
As widely reported, the decision increases litigation risks for other oil and gas companies, with Total already facing a similar case in France. Less attention has been paid to the possible implications of the ruling for governments and financial institutions.
A recent legal opinion by University of Cambridge professor Jorge Viñuales and barrister Kate Cook suggests that governments and public finance institutions that support new fossil fuel infrastructure face litigation risks similar to those of the fossil fuel industry. Like Shell, they continue to pour fuel on the fire by supporting fossil fuel production.
The G20 governments provide more than three times as much public finance for fossil fuels as for clean energy every year and their support for fossil fuels continued even after the adoption of the Paris Agreement. Like Shell, they can change course. By shifting public money out of fossil fuels, they can help avoid the worst climate crisis scenarios whilst freeing up finance to accelerate the transition to a just and green future.
The Conversation, 30 Jun 2021: Shell court ruling is a wake-up call for governments to end fossil fuel support
