French energy giant TotalEnergies is facing a greenwashing case initiated by three environmental groups.
The civil lawsuit, filed in March 2022, accuses TotalEnergies of misleading commercial practices through advertisements that claim it can achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 while simultaneously expanding its oil and gas production.
The plaintiffs, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth France, and Notre Affaire à Tous, argue that approximately 40 of TotalEnergies’ advertisements, particularly those promoting its carbon neutrality by 2050 goal and touting gas as the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions, do not accurately reflect the company’s operations. They contend that the company’s rebranding to TotalEnergies in 2021 was also part of this misleading campaign.
Apolline Cagnat, a legal counsel at Greenpeace, stated that the NGOs seek a “strong signal” from the court, demanding an “immediate stop, under penalty,” to these misleading commercial practices.
The NGOs also emphasize that this case is the first time a French court will rule on the legality of ads presenting gas as essential to the energy transition, despite climate experts highlighting the powerful warming effect of methane leaks from the gas industry.
However, TotalEnergies disputes the charges, asserting that its communications are institutional and regulated by financial authorities, not consumer law.
The company also argues that the NGOs are misusing consumer protection rules to challenge its corporate strategy and that no consumer organization is party to the case.
TotalEnergies plans to demonstrate that its messages are “reliable and based on objective, verifiable data.”
According to media reports, this trial marks a significant development in the growing trend of environmental groups using legal avenues to hold companies accountable for their environmental claims.
Similar cases in Europe have seen rulings against airlines like KLM and Lufthansa for misleading consumers.
The hearing for the TotalEnergies greenwashing trial took place on Thursday, June 5, 2025. The judge has announced that a ruling in the case is expected on October 23, 2025.
