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Belgium: Farmer's climate lawsuit challenges TotalEnergies over alleged role in global warming

Free Malaysia Today CC BY 4.0

In March 2024, Belgian farmer Hugues Falys filed Belgium’s first climate lawsuit against a multinational company, accusing TotalEnergies of contributing to climate change and seeking both compensation for farm-level harm and a court-ordered transition plan aligned with the Paris Agreement.

Three Belgian NGOs, FIAN, Greenpeace Belgium and the Ligue des droits humains, formally intervened, arguing that TotalEnergies should be compelled to halt new fossil-fuel investments and significantly reduce oil and gas production.

On 19 November 2025, hearings began in Tournai, with Falys reiterating that the case aims to force the company to change its practices and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Greenpeace Belgium stated that major polluters must face legal accountability for climate impacts.

TotalEnergies did not comment on the latest report, but in other proceedings has said it is cutting emissions and investing in renewable energy. The case forms part of a growing wave of climate litigation globally.

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