Milieudefensie and NGOs Sue Shell

In a bold assertion of environmental justice, Milieudefensie—the Dutch chapter of Friends of the Earth—spearheaded a landmark legal case against Shell, joined by six other NGOs and over 17,000 Dutch citizens. The lawsuit accused the oil giant of knowingly fueling climate change while being fully aware of its dangers since the mid-1980s. This case wasn’t just another challenge to Shell’s operations; it symbolized a broader shift in the fight against environmental degradation, as ordinary people and civil society groups began using the courtroom as a battleground for climate accountability. The plaintiffs demanded that Shell dramatically cut its carbon emissions and bring its business into compliance with the Paris Agreement’s targets. This legal action is part of a growing global trend in which the public is no longer waiting for governments to act—they are taking fossil fuel companies directly to court. The Shell case signals to the entire industry that past knowledge of climate risks does not absolve present inaction. It also reflects a deepening awareness that systemic change often requires legal intervention, especially when corporate rhetoric about sustainability is not matched by actual emissions reductions. As environmental crises worsen, these lawsuits could redefine the role of corporations in a world rapidly running out of time.