France’s BNP Paribas Faces Court Over Climate Financing Allegations
France’s BNP Paribas is poised to face legal scrutiny for its alleged financial support of projects that contribute to climate change, in what supporters call the world’s first climate-related lawsuit. NGOs backing legal action describe the case as a historic move in accountability for the finance sector. The lawsuit highlights a major oil and gas financing footprint and frames it as a central issue in the climate crisis.
The organizations Les Amis de la Terre France, Notre Affaire À Tous, and Oxfam France accuse BNP Paribas of neglecting its responsibilities amid the climate emergency, calling the bank the largest financier of eight major oil and gas companies across Europe and North America.
The complaint rests on a 2017 French law establishing a vigilance duty for large corporations. This law obliges French companies to identify and prevent serious risks to human rights and the environment linked to their activities. The NGOs argue that BNP Paribas failed to act on known risks in its financing of fossil fuels, and that after not receiving a reply within the mandatory three-month period, complainants have the right to seek judicial remedy.
Official statements indicate that BNP Paribas will be called to answer in court for its climate responsibilities. The three associations behind the L’Affaire BNP Paribas suit contend that the bank violated duties of care expected of multinational corporations in relation to emissions and environmental damage, a view they articulate in a formal release.
The Paris Judicial Court has charged BNP Paribas, with a timetable to determine subsequent steps in the proceedings. This development places the lender in the center of a growing legal conversation about corporate accountability for environmental impact.
NGO lawyers hope judges will reference UN and OECD guidelines, which outline governance measures for bank-sponsored activities. These principles can, in some cases, extend to halting financing at the source of damage, reflecting a broader push for responsible investment practices.
Key Considerations in the Case
Critics argue that BNP Paribas continues to provide substantial support to fossil fuel companies without clear transition plans. In response, supporters of the case emphasize that the legal process should yield a binding result, ensuring that climate considerations are integrated into corporate decisions.
The action is often framed as part of a broader trajectory inspired by precedents such as the Netherlands’ Urgenda case, where the state faced scrutiny for not meeting emissions reduction targets. In France, the climate justice campaign known as L’affaire du siècle has similarly shaped expectations about official accountability for climate inaction.
Since 2022, Les Amis de la Terre France, Notre Affaire À Tous, and Oxfam France have supported the BNP Paribas case, arguing that the bank’s participation in environmentally harmful projects contributes to a global warming crisis that demands stronger oversight and reform.
The case underscores ongoing debates about the balance between sovereign policy action and private sector responsibility in meeting climate goals, as communities seek higher standards of transparency and risk management in financial activities related to energy.
[Attribution: Statements and positions reported by the supporting NGOs and coordinating legal teams on the BNP Paribas climate case.]