TotalEnergies has been targeted since December 2021 by an investigation in Nanterre for “misleading commercial practices” in the field of the environment. The group is also targeted in two other cases. He defends his commitments.
TotalEnergies is one of the most controversial large groups of the moment. He is the preferred target of NGOs who accuse him of greenwashing, of failing in his duty of vigilance and of harming the environment and human rights within the framework of his Eacop project, a crude oil pipeline between Tanzania and Uganda. This Thursday, January 26, the Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed information from Mediapart: the group is the target of an investigation carried out by the economic and financial center of the Nanterre public prosecutor’s office for “misleading commercial practices” since December 2021.
TotalEnergies targeted in three files and an investigation
In October 2020, the associations Wild Legal, Sea Shepherd France and Darwin Climax Coalitions filed a criminal complaint against Total, accusing it in particular of misleading commercial practices and air degradation. Contacted by AFP, the oil giant replied that it had “no information on the complaint mentioned. And neither the company nor its executives have received a request for a hearing on this subject..
In March 2022, Greenpeace France, Friends of the Earth France and Notre Affaire à Tous also sued TotalEnergies for “greenwashing” and “misleading commercial practices”. The NGOs are targeting an campaign in which the firm claims to be a “a major player in the energy transition » pour “achieve a NetZero society by 2050”. A decision is expected on February 28 in Paris, to find out if there is a need for an investigation.
In January 2020, other environmental associations – Our business to all, Sherpa, ZEA, the Eco Mayors and FNE – filed an appeal against Total concerning the duty of vigilance of multinationals. They want justice to order the group to “drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions”, according to a press release from Our business to all. In September 2022, Poitiers, Paris, New York and Amnesty France joined the call. A new hearing will take place on March 22 at the Paris court.
TotalEnergies Responds to Accusations
Contacted by AFP, the oil giant defended its strategy “concrete (…) to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050”. It evokes ” investments “of the “new professions” and an “significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions”. Its emissions in Europe have been reduced “by 23% between 2015 and 2021”says the group.
TotalEnergies still organizes and finances fossil fuel exploitation projects such as Eacop. This heated pipeline project alone will emit 34 million tonnes of CO2 per year according to the NGO Afiego, the IDI and the company BankTrack. The group is widely active in defending its project on social networks and sharing “10 misconceptions about Tilenga & EACOP projects”.
Sufficient investments in its transformation?
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global energy mix compatible with carbon neutrality imposes “the rapid decline in demand for oil and natural gas”. She adds : “there is no exploration required” et “no new gas and oil fields are needed beyond those already approved”. The roadmap also excludes any new investment in coal-fired power plants.
Over the period 2022-2025, TotalEnergies plans investments of between 14 billion and 18 billion euros per year. A third will be dedicated to renewable energies and energy savings; the remaining two-thirds will be dedicated to growth in liquefied natural gas and new oil projects.
NGOs notably criticize the oil giant for its double discourse. Indeed, while it presents itself as a major player in the ecological and energy transition and apparently advocates carbon neutrality, it continues to invest in new oil and gas projects, in contradiction with the position of the IEA.