Oil Giant Ordered to Remove Misleading Green Claims After Court Ruling

On October 23, 2025, a Paris court delivered a significant blow to the oil and gas industry's greenwashing practices. The court ruled that TotalEnergies, one of Europe's largest energy companies, had misled consumers about its environmental commitments and efforts to combat climate change.

The ruling came after several environmental advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against TotalEnergies, alleging that the company's eco-friendly messaging did not align with its continued pursuit of fossil fuel projects across Europe and Africa. The court found that TotalEnergies' claims of shifting away from dirty fuels and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 were not supported by its actual business activities.

As a result, the court mandated that TotalEnergies remove all misleading claims from its website and display the court's ruling prominently for six months, or face a daily monetary penalty. Experts say this decision sets a precedent for holding oil and gas companies accountable for their greenwashing practices.

"It sends a signal globally that the oil and gas industry's common transition claims are misleading," said Johnny White, a lawyer representing the consumers. "From now on, when companies pursuing fossil fuel expansion use this type of narrative, it is neither credible nor legally safe."

Greenwashing, the practice of making exaggerated or false claims about a company's environmental credentials, has long been a concern in the fossil fuel industry. Many large oil companies have prominent sections on their websites touting their sustainability efforts, but the reality is that they remain among the world's biggest contributors to climate change.