A Dutch climate group has launched a fresh legal challenge against Shell plc in the Netherlands, intensifying a long-running battle over the company’s emissions strategy.
The case was filed on Tuesday by Friends of the Earth Netherlands, which is demanding an immediate halt to new oil and gas investments.
The lawsuit argues that Shell’s continued development of fossil fuel projects undermines global climate goals and risks worsening environmental damage.
Activists say the company must stop bringing new oil and gas fields into production to limit its climate impact.
Shell has rejected the claims, describing the case as unreasonable and maintaining that global demand for fossil fuels remains essential.
The company argues that restricting its output would simply shift production to other energy firms without reducing overall emissions.
The legal action builds on an earlier case that has moved through Dutch courts for years. In 2024, an appeals court ruled Shell has a responsibility to reduce emissions, though it removed a previously imposed specific reduction target.
Despite relocating its headquarters from The Hague to London in 2022, Shell still faces Dutch jurisdiction, according to the claimants, who argue its operations continue to affect the Netherlands. No hearing date has yet been set for the new case.