France’s BNP Paribas will have to be held accountable in court for its “financial support” to projects that contribute to climate change“the world’s first lawsuit against a climate”, as reported by NGOs supporting legal actions trying to make history today bank advert”.
The organizations Les Amis de la Terre France, Notre Affaire À Tous and Oxfam France have accused BNP Paribas for ignoring its responsibility in the climate crisis and “The world’s largest financier of eight major European and North American oil and gas companies.”
The complaint is based on a 2017 French law on the “vigilance duty of multinational companies”, which obliges large French companies to take measures to detect and prevent risks of serious human rights violations, including damage to the environment.
According to these NGOs; The French bank ignored previous requests by the three associations to end their “climate-killing” activities. (those related to the financing of fossil fuels), therefore, in the absence of a response within the period prescribed by law (three months), complainants have the right to apply to Justice.
“Official: BNP Paribas will have to answer in court for its responsibility in the climate crisis. Three associations of ‘L’Affaire BNP’ have filed suit against France’s most polluting bank. violation of the multinational corporations duty of care act“, they detailed in a statement.
BNP Paribas was charged in the Paris Judicial Court, which will be tasked with “setting a timetable for the next phases of the procedure”.
NGO lawyers hope judges will trust UN and OECD guiding principles “identifies special oversight measures for bank-sponsored activities, their financing and investments, which can go as far as stopping the activity at the source of the damage”.
“Without setting conditions for transition”
BNP Paribas continues to issue blank checks to the largest fossil fuel companies with no transition requirement. (…) With this invitation, we strongly reiterate that our associations are determined to obtain a binding decision from the judge,” Alexandre Poidatz, head of climate law advocacy at Oxfam, said in a statement.
This action follows in the footsteps of the pioneering case that pitted the Netherlands against the Urgenda Foundation.. This accused the Dutch state of failing to meet the minimum target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which jeopardizes citizens’ rights.
happened in france a similar precedent with the climate justice campaign “L’Affaire du siècle”, this led to the French state being ordered by a court to address the harms of climate inaction.
Since 2022, Les Amis de la Terre France, Notre Affaire À Tous and Oxfam France have been supporting the “L’affaire BNP Paribas” campaign, which condemns this bank’s participation in environmentally harmful and purposeful projects. limiting global warming globally.
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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]