A French court ruled that energy company TotalEnergies misled the public with its 2021 advertising by claiming it could reach carbon neutrality by 2050. This is the first time France’s greenwashing law has been applied to a major energy firm. The court ordered TotalEnergies to remove misleading statements about carbon neutrality and its role in the energy transition from its website. If the company fails to comply, it faces fines of up to 20,000 euros per day.
TotalEnergies must also pay a total of 39,000 euros in reparations and legal fees to three environmental groups—Friends of the Earth France, Greenpeace France, and Notre Affaire à Tous—that filed the complaint. These groups called the court’s decision historic, saying it is the first time a large oil and gas company has been held responsible for greenwashing its image.
The court referenced reports from the International Energy Agency and the United Nations, which stress the urgent need to cut emissions quickly to meet climate goals set by the Paris Agreement. The ruling highlighted that TotalEnergies’ expansion of oil and gas production contradicted the goal of halting new fossil fuel developments. By promoting itself as aligned with the Paris Agreement without clarifying its ongoing fossil fuel activities, TotalEnergies misled customers into thinking their products supported a low-carbon future.
Specifically, the court ordered the removal of three key claims from TotalEnergies’ website: its ambition “to become a major actor in the energy transition” and be “carbon neutral by 2050,” its statement about placing “sustainability at the heart of its strategy,” and its goal to deliver “more energy, less emissions.” The court did not rule on other claims related to emissions from natural gas and biofuels or whether the 2050 carbon neutrality goal could be realistically met.
In response, TotalEnergies said the ruling targeted general statements on its website, not its electricity and gas ads in France. The company pledged to review the judgment and adjust its website content accordingly.
Despite TotalEnergies’ efforts to promote renewable energy—it has 30 gigawatts of renewable capacity—more than 97% of its income in 2024 came from oil and gas activities that are not considered sustainable, according to EU disclosures. Meanwhile, a separate criminal investigation into the company is ongoing in France.
This case comes at a time when governments, especially in the European Union, are increasing scrutiny on companies making green claims, aiming to crack down on misleading “greenwashing.” While several financial firms have faced pressure, penalties for false environmental claims remain a work in progress in many regions.
The French ruling may set a precedent for holding large polluters accountable for their public statements on climate, encouraging more transparency and honesty in how companies talk about their environmental impact.