Dutch climate group Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands) has formally notified Shell that it will file a second lawsuit against the oil giant, which it accuses of breaching its legal duty to reduce carbon emissions.
The notice argues that Shell is failing to comply with that 2021 Dutch court ruling that ordered it to cut global emissions in line with the Paris Agreement to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5℃. The new case will focus on Shell’s continued investment in new oil and gas fields across the world. Shell is yet to issue a detailed public response.
It would mark Milieudefensie’s second major legal action against Shell in under five years. Although the earlier ruling was partially overturned on appeal in 2024, the court upheld that Shell has an obligation to address its climate impact.
The warning came just days before Shell’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held under high security at London’s Heathrow Airport after activists had disrupted previous AGMs.
Inside, Milieudefensie director Donald Pols questioned the board of directors including CEO Wael Sawan, asking whether Shell would stop expanding fossil fuel operations. The board replied only to indicate that they would respond to the legal notice before the four-week deadline is up.
While the meeting was taking place in the protest-restricted zone, activists staged a mock “oil spill” outside Shell’s London headquarters to protest against Shell’s pollution of the Niger Delta, Nigeria.
Amnesty campaigner, Elaine Van Der Schaft, said that “Shell has made huge profits at the expense of people in the Niger Delta without taking any responsibility.”
Tyrone Scott of anti-poverty charity War on Want said the protest was about “shining a light on Shell’s destructive practices” and “standing in solidarity with communities they’ve devastated globally.”
Shell has continued to expand oil and gas production despite the 2021 ruling and growing scrutiny from human rights groups. The company insists it is investing in “energy security.”
