TotalEnergies SE was sued in Paris on February 19 2026 by a coalition of French non‑governmental organisations and the City of Paris. The plaintiffs allege that the company’s oil and gas exploration activities violate local environmental and regulatory standards and seek an injunction to stop further drilling in the region.
The lawsuit is brought under France’s 2017 “duty of vigilance” law, which obliges large companies to identify, prevent, mitigate and redress human rights and environmental impacts throughout their operations and supply chains. Plaintiffs demand that TotalEnergies align its business with a 1.5‑degree‑Celsius‑compatible emissions pathway, including a 37 % cut in oil production and a 25 % cut in gas production by 2030, and the cessation of new hydrocarbon projects.
TotalEnergies’ legal team argues that the court’s request is too far‑reaching. “In reality, what you are being asked to do is to ban TotalEnergies from carrying out its corporate purpose,” a lawyer said. The firm also questioned its influence over Scope 3 emissions, asking, “What alleged influence do we have to make Air France modernise its fleet? What influence would we have to force Airbus to build lighter planes?” The company added, “It makes no sense at all to prevent TotalEnergies from producing oil and gas that the global energy system still uses today. The courtroom is not the right place to advance the energy transition.” TotalEnergies has also described the suit as a case of “demonisation” by the plaintiffs.
This case is the first climate lawsuit of its kind in France to target a multinational oil company. It follows a 2025 Paris court ruling that criticized TotalEnergies for misleading consumers with climate pledges, a decision the company did not appeal. The outcome could set a significant precedent for corporate climate responsibility under the duty of vigilance law and may influence how other fossil‑fuel firms manage Scope 3 emissions and future regulatory exposure.
The hearing began on February 19 and is scheduled to continue on February 20. While the court has not yet issued a verdict, the lawsuit signals a growing trend of climate litigation against major energy companies worldwide and could prompt TotalEnergies to accelerate its transition strategy and reassess its exploration portfolio.
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