A trial pitting state-controlled Italian energy giant Eni against environmental NGOs who hope to force the company to sharply reduce its greenhouse gas emissions opened Friday February 16 in Rome.
Greenpeace Italy and ReCommon filed this lawsuit, along with twelve citizens from regions of Italy seriously affected by extreme weather events, and also want to force Eni to recognize its contribution to climate change. These plaintiffs accuse Eni of pursuing policies “in flagrant violation of the Paris agreement”the historic 2015 agreement aimed at limiting global warming, as well as using strategies to “lobbying and greenwashing” to minimize its liability.
Taking inspiration from a 2021 court case in the Netherlands, which saw oil giant Shell forced to reduce its emissions, the plaintiffs hope to force Eni to reduce its carbon footprint by 45% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.
They also want Eni to be forced to make a “declaration of responsibility” for the damage caused by its greenhouse gas emissions, which they say are overall greater than those generated by all of Italy.
Alessandro Gariglio, a lawyer for Greenpeace Italy, said the parties exchanged documents, including technical and expert conclusions, on Friday, and the court is expected to set the date for the next hearing soon.
“Rights to life, health and private and family life”
Climate change caused by human activity is increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires, putting everyone living on the planet at risk. Greenpeace Italy and Recommon have published a report showing that Eni has known about the effects of fossil fuel extraction on the climate since the 1970s. Eni’s two main shareholders, the Italian Ministry of Economy and the Caisse des Depots (CDP), which together hold a third of the shares, are also targeted by the legal action.
Rome court must determine whether all three parties violated “the human rights to life, health and private and family life”.
The company Eni had already previously undertaken to explain to the court its “decarbonization strategy”which, according to her, reconciles three objectives: “sustainability, energy security and the well-being of the country”. Friday, the company assured that it will demonstrate during the trial “the lack of basis for the claims of Greenpeace and ReCommon, both legally and factually”.
The lawsuit is the first of its kind brought against a private company in Italy and follows a series of climate-related legal actions around the world.