For What It's Earth: Issue 59: November 20, 2024

Litigation

Shell has won an appeal against a 2021 Dutch court ruling that required the company to significantly reduce its carbon emissions by 2030. The original ruling mandated Shell to cut emissions from its products by 45% compared to 2019 levels. The appeals court found that the order was too stringent and noted that governments, rather than courts, should set climate policies.

Legislation

Following intense lobbying EU lawmakers have agreed to delay and ease the implementation of a law banning products linked to deforestation, initially set for December 2024. The law targets commodities like soy, beef, and palm oil, requiring companies to ensure their supply chains are deforestation-free. To aid compliance, a registry will be introduced to track and verify supply chain transparency, allowing companies to document and report their efforts.