How Does This Work Then?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57257982
Shell are a multinational conglomerate operating world wide, how can they be bossed about by a single nation?

[Mamyalynne]

//Shell - full name Royal Dutch Shell - is a British-Dutch multinational. Because its headquarters are in The Hague, FoE was able to bring a case to a Dutch court.//

[ToraToraTora]

yes but they could leave a plaque on the wall and move anywhere and do what they kin well like and the screaming lords can't do owt about it.

[Mamyalynne]

Righto.

Tell them that.

[New Judge]

The lunatics continue to take over the asylum.

[Chinajan]

The answer is in your own link. This decision is an enforcement of the legally binding Paris Agreement:

'Under the terms of the Paris Agreement on climate change, nearly 200 nations agreed to keep global temperatures "well below" 2C above pre-industrial levels.

The legally binding treaty came into force on 4 November 2016. The US withdrew under former President Donald Trump but has since rejoined under President Joe Biden."

[ToraToraTora]

so they singled out one Oil company? Right oh! Good luck with that! I suppose it keeps the tree huggers happy for 5 mins.

[New Judge]

//Under the terms of the Paris Agreement on climate change, nearly 200 nations agreed to keep global temperatures "//

Then the countries concerned need to make it illegal for individuals or corporations to carry out activities which will jeopardise the aims of those treaties. From the BBC report:

"The Shell verdict is a massive win for environmental campaigners, and other industrial giants will be scrambling to figure out how it could affect them."

"Because suddenly it's not good enough for firms to comply with the law on their emissions - in an extraordinary case like this, they have to comply with global climate policy too."

So a company now fully complying with national legislation lays itself open to "global climate policy" (whatever that might be).

As I said, the lunatics are slowly but very surely being allowed to take charge. I hope Shell successfully appeals this ridiculous ruling.

[THECORBYLOON]

From the link, "Though the decision only applies in the Netherlands,..."

[William51]

It appears they are not being bossed by a single nation, but this court ruling was brought and won by climate change protestors. Shell have already pledged to cut emissions, but this ruling will focus every ones minds.

[dave50]

Climate change protesters will only be happy when they have managed to persuade nations to destroy their economies.

[Sunk]

They are under the legislation of the country they operate out of, in this case the Netherlands.
If you are a Dutch company, you have to obey Dutch law.
They may be a multinational company who operate in several countries, and have to obey local laws in those countries, but ultimately how the company is governed and under which legal framework they are judged is Holland, where they pay their tax.
Shell are a reputable company and choose to be Dutch. It gives them a lot of advantages, and a few disadvantages.

[New Judge]

I wonder what Dutch law they've broken.

If a government wants its citizens and businesses to comply with a treaty they've signed they will need to introduce legislation which compels them to do so. Individuals and companies do not have to interpret and comply with international treaties. This ruling is a farce.

[tomus42]

// the lunatics continue to take over the asylum //

Yeah, that's courts of law and judges for you, making stupid decisions and stuff. This judgement only applies to the Netherlands so what's the big deal.

[youngmafbog]

//This judgement only applies to the Netherlands so what's the big deal.//

Because give these nutters an inch and they take a mile.

It will be appealed I am sure. As NJ says if the Dutch want their companies to comply with the Paris accord they must legislate accordingly.

Alternatively of course Shell could just say sod you and pull out of Holland.