TotalEnergies to Appeal French Court Ruling on Climate Obligations

TotalEnergies announced that its Board of Directors has approved an appeal against a ruling issued by the Paris Judicial Court on June 25, 2026, in proceedings brought by environmental organizations under France’s corporate duty of vigilance law.

In a statement published by the company, TotalEnergies said it disagrees with the court’s interpretation of the legislation and will present its arguments before the Paris Court of Appeal.

According to the company, the appeal is based on the argument that climate change, as a global phenomenon, falls outside the scope of France’s duty of vigilance law. TotalEnergies noted that the Public Prosecutor’s Office expressed a similar position during the proceedings, arguing that climate change is a global issue primarily involving the international community of states.

The company also challenged the court’s conclusion that it can be held responsible for greenhouse gas emissions generated by customers using its fuel products.

According to TotalEnergies, the duty of vigilance law is intended to address risks arising from a company’s own operations, its subsidiaries, suppliers and subcontractors, but does not extend to activities carried out by customers, over whom companies have no operational control.

The company stated that it does not determine whether consumers choose to drive gasoline-powered vehicles, use biofuels or adopt electric vehicles, adding that its role is to provide access to the energy products selected by its customers.

TotalEnergies further argued that requiring companies in sectors such as energy, defense, aerospace and automotive to control risks associated with the use of their products would not be consistent with the objectives of the French legislation or with the principles of legal certainty and freedom to conduct business.

The company also noted that the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) does not include customers’ activities within the scope of corporate due diligence obligations.

The appeal will now be reviewed by the Paris Court of Appeal.