The oil and natural gas company Shell has lost a major climate suit against environmental protection organizations and, according to the verdict, has to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions considerably.
Shell must reduce its CO2 emissions by 45 percent net by 2030 compared to 2019, the court said on Wednesday in The Hague.
According to the ruling, the British-Dutch group is committed to climate protection, which applies to its own companies as well as to suppliers and end users.
Shell had rejected the demands and argued that it had committed to climate protection.
However, the court stated that the measures adopted by the company were "not very specific and full of reservations".
Shell had argued that if convicted, it would have to rapidly cut fossil fuel sales.
But then other providers would take over this.
The court did not accept the argument.
Other companies would also have the same obligation.
Several environmental organizations and more than 17,000 citizens had sued the group.
Shell is violating global climate targets and is continuing to invest heavily in the production of oil and natural gas, the plaintiffs said.