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Why we are launching a new climate case against Shell

We’re preparing to file a new climate case against Shell. Our demand: to put a stop to new oil and gas expansion. For the future of our planet, each new oil or gas field is one too many. This will be the first climate case against new oil and gas fields of this scale.

Every new oil or gas field is one too many

The science is clear: if we are to stay within planetary boundaries, there is no room for any new oil and gas exploration. Even if we only extract fuels from existing fields, our planet will greatly overshoot the 1.5 degrees limit. The court confirms: the opening of new oil and gas fields is at odds with the Paris Climate Agreement. And yet, Shell owns 700 new oil and gas fields worldwide, which the company could start exploiting whenever they please.

--> Read more about Shell's plans to continue to drill

Why bring a new climate case against Shell?

Shell is 1 of the largest polluters in the world. Without the involvement of big corporations like Shell, there is no stopping the climate crisis. Through this climate case, we hope to avoid having to take polluters to court over every individual oil or gas field. Across the world (in the UK and Norway, amongst others) climate organizations have claimed victory in legal battles against fossil fuel expansion. Our new case against Shell is the first ever attempt at legally banning a company from all new oil and gas extraction.

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Photo: director Donald Pols, and chairperson of Young Friends of the Earth Winnie Oussoren in front of a projection on Shell headquarters in The Hague. Photographer: Marten van Dijl

In this new climate case, we’re asking the court to impose specific targets on Shell to reduce its emissions between 2030 and 2050. As of yet, Shell has set no such targets. The company even plans to extract more gas in the coming years. Their latest annual report shows that over the last 2 years, Shell has taken a very different route indeed, and even dialed down its investments in renewable energy.

Shell won’t stop drilling unless we make them. Only a court can bar Shell from starting new oil and gas fields. That is why we must take legal action against Shell, if we are to stand a chance at stopping dangerous climate change. Every new oil or gas field is one too many. That’s why we are taking Shell to court.

--> Check out all our legal demands in our new climate case against Shell

Two climate lawsuits against Shell? This is the deal

We are bringing this new climate case against Shell on new oil and gas fields to court while our first lawsuit against Shell over its CO2 reduction responsibility is still ongoing. In this previous lawsuit, we demand that Shell curb its emissions by 45% by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement. In November 2024, the Court of Appeal ruled that Shell must reduce its emissions, but it did not impose a specific reduction target. Without a target, there can be no real action. That is why we decided to bring this case to the highest court in the Netherlands. Read more in Why we’re taking our Shell climate case to the Supreme Court.

What this case means for people and the planet

  • This climate case is to make sure we won’t need to take polluters to court over every single new oil or gas field. Such a strategy would be far too time-consuming.
  • If the court rules in our favor, it can ban Shell from any new oil and gas exploitation.
  • Should Shell refrain from any new oil and gas extraction, it would translate to a 5.2 billion tons reduction of CO2 emissions. This equates to 36 times the yearly emissions of the Netherlands.

If we join forces, we can stop Shell from stealing our future, and that of our children.

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Published 2025-05-13 This news item is part of campaign Energy
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