The Nanterre public prosecution office in France has confirmed that it has started an investigation into a 2020 complaint filed by environmentalist groups against TotalEnergies over alleged misleading commercial practices.
However, the prosecutor’s office’s decision to investigate the complaint is not an indication that it sees the company as guilty as the probe may eventually lead to a trial, or be shelved.
Various civil lawsuits and complaints have been filed by environmental groups against TotalEnergies’ public advertising of its climate-friendly investments which they see as misleading and argue that it spends a large amount of money through investments in oil and gas exploration and production.
Total has denied the campaign groups’ accusations of so-called greenwashing by the company.
“TotalEnergies implements its strategy in a concrete way -investments, new businesses, a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, etc. – and is in line with the objectives that the company has set itself to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,” it said in its own defence.
Story was adapted from Reuters.
