abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

25 Oct 2018

Author:
Dana Drugmand, Climate Liability News

French Communities Demand Climate Action by Oil Giant Total

In a letter addressed to Total’s chief executive on [the 22 of October], representatives of 13 cities and four organizations said [oil and gas company Total] is not meeting its legal obligations under [the 2017 French Duty of Vigilance Law] that requires the biggest French companies to assess and prevent impacts from their operations on human rights and the environment...

Under the law, two of the requirements for the vigilance plan are a “mapping that identifies, analyzes and ranks risks,” and “appropriate action to mitigate risks or prevent serious violations.” Total’s plan fails both of these requirements, according to the letter...

“The French Duty of Vigilance Law, the first of its kind in the world, provides us with the legal basis to compel Total to take climate risk into account and take appropriate actions to reduce it,” [stated] Sébastien Mabile, lawyer with the Paris-based firm Seattle Avocats...

The French cities and groups are [also] demanding that Total “conform to the climate goal fixed by the Paris Agreement to limit global warming at 1.5°C in order to prevent a climate crisis.” 

The communities have made commitments to environmental sustainability and implementing transformative policies and practices...

[Also refers to Shell]