TotalEnergies Convicted of Greenwashing by French Court Over Climate Pledges

Landmark Ruling in Paris

A civil court in Paris, France, delivered a significant verdict on Thursday, October 23, 2025, finding the energy giant TotalEnergies guilty of 'misleading commercial practices'. The court determined that the company had overstated its climate pledges, thereby misleading consumers about the true scope of its environmental commitments. This ruling marks the first time that France's 'greenwashing' laws have been applied to a major fossil fuel company, and activists have hailed it as a global precedent against climate misinformation by an oil and gas major.

Details of the Misleading Claims

The case was brought forward by a coalition of environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including Greenpeace France, Friends of the Earth France, and Notre Affaire à Tous, with support from ClientEarth. The lawsuit, initiated in March 2022, targeted statements made by TotalEnergies on its website and in a 2021 advertising campaign.

The court specifically identified the following claims as misleading:

• TotalEnergies' 'ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050'.
• Its assertion 'to be a major player in the energy transition'.
• Statements placing 'sustainable development at the heart of its strategy' and contributing to 'the wellbeing of populations' in line with UN sustainable development goals.

However, the court dismissed complaints related to TotalEnergies' promotion of fossil gas as a less carbon-intensive fuel and biofuels as low-carbon alternatives, considering these to be informational rather than commercial for consumers.

Court Orders and Penalties

As a result of the conviction, the Paris civil court has issued several directives to TotalEnergies:

• The company must remove the identified misleading statements from its website within one month.
• Failure to comply will result in a fine of €10,000 per day. Some reports indicate penalties could be up to €20,000 per day.
• TotalEnergies is also ordered to prominently display the court's ruling on its website.
• The company must pay €8,000 to each of the three plaintiff NGOs.
• An additional €15,000 has been awarded to cover the NGOs' legal costs.

Industry Impact and Company Response

This ruling is seen as a significant legal precedent that could influence how European courts address greenwashing and reshape corporate climate advertising across the European Union and beyond. It sends a 'clear warning shot' to other oil and gas companies, according to ClientEarth lawyer Johnny White.

In response to the judgment, TotalEnergies acknowledged the court's decision but stated that 'most of the claims against it were dismissed'. The company clarified that the judgment targets general statements on the parent company's website, TotalEnergies SE, rather than specific advertising campaigns for French consumers.