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On 26 May 2021, the Hague District Court delivered a watershed decision against the oil and gas major Royal Dutch Shell (Shell).
The Court ordered Shell to reduce its net carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030, in line with the global emissions pathway for meeting the 1.5°C temperature goal contained in the Paris Agreement.
This case is seminal in terms of its conclusions concerning the relevance of climate science and international climate law to corporate liability and its consideration of business impacts on human rights.
ClientEarth's investor briefing outlines six key takeaways from the judgement, with implications for the business plans of all high-emitting businesses and their investors, financiers and advisers.