\n Published on
\n 19\/11\/2025 – 11:00 GMT+1\n <\/p>\n
A groundbreaking climate case between a Belgian farmer and one of the world\u2019s biggest oil companies begins today (19 November), almost two years after it was filed. <\/p>\n
In March 2024, Hugues Falys from Hainaut in west Belgium took TotalEnergies to the commercial court of Tournai to seek compensation for damage to his farm that he says is directly caused by climate change.<\/p>\n
Backed by FIAN, Greenpeace and the League of Human Rights – and supported by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) as part of its \u2018See You In Court\u2019 project – the David-vs-Goliath case is the first climate action targeting a multinational company in Belgium.<\/p>\n
\u2018The front line of climate change\u2019<\/p>\n
In a statement sent to Euronews Green, Falys argues that climate change<\/a> has had a \u201cmajor impact\u201d on his business.<\/p>\n The yields of his meadows and crops have been affected by climate-driven extreme weather events <\/a>such as heavy rainfall, droughts and heatwaves.<\/p>\n \u201cLike all farmers, I am on the front line of climate change,\u201d he adds. \u201cHowever, climate change is not inevitable. Those responsible must be held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n The three NGO plaintiffs in the case are now calling on TotalEnergies to stop all new investments in fossil fuel projects<\/a>, urging the courts to establish responsibility for the oil giant\u2019s activities that \u201cdirectly harm the climate system.\u201d<\/p>\n Who is TotalEnergies?<\/p>\n Recently making headlines for unveiling a $100 million (\u20ac86.25 million) climate investment at COP30<\/a>, TotalEnergies is one of around 20 companies active in fossil fuel production that are responsible for more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n Despite this, the company describes its purpose as providing as many people as possible with energy that is \u201cmore affordable, more reliable and more sustainable\u201d.<\/p>\n According to FIDH, TotalEnergies has just confirmed a four per cent increase in its hydrocarbon production<\/a>, which extracts and refines hydrocarbons like crude oil and natural gas from the Earth.<\/p>\n This contradicts recommendations from institutions such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which says hydrocarbon production must decrease to limit global warming to 1.5\u2103.<\/p>\n An \u2018immediate stop\u2019 to fossil fuels<\/p>\n