The StopEACOP coalition is cheering the start of France’s first major climate trial against TotalEnergies, which kicked off on February 19, 2026, at the Paris Court of Justice.
Since 2020, advocacy groups like Notre Affaire à Tous and Sherpa, in collaboration with the City of Paris, have urged French courts to make TotalEnergies significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and cut back on hydrocarbon production. However, French prosecutors are backing TotalEnergies, claiming that climate change shouldn’t fall under the duty of vigilance framework.
Zaki Mamdoo, the StopEACOP Campaign Coordinator, criticized this move. He said it’s concerning that prosecutors are trying to shield a major oil company from accountability for its climate impact.
TotalEnergies, one of the world’s largest historical polluters, has plans to increase its production by about 3% each year. This includes a range of new fossil fuel projects, despite clear scientific evidence that such expansions are not compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
Among these projects is the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a 1,443 km pipeline under construction that will carry crude oil from Uganda to Tanzania. Developed by TotalEnergies and CNOOC, it aims to begin exports in 2026. Yet, the project faces severe criticism for its environmental and human rights implications. Many global financial institutions have already distanced themselves from it due to these concerns.
Balach Bakundane, a community organizer from the EACOP Host Communities Organisation, expressed the harsh realities faced by local families, which include land displacement and disrupted livelihoods. He emphasized the need for justice, stating, “We need to draw a line. No more expansion. No more impunity. No more profiteering at our expense.”
This trial is significant because it’s taken six years to reach this point. TotalEnergies has repeatedly tried to evade responsibility using procedural tactics. Additionally, there is a separate ongoing case against the company based on French law related to their duty of vigilance, filed by impacted Ugandans and civil society groups.
The February hearing comes at a critical time for climate accountability. Courts worldwide are increasingly acknowledging that climate change poses a direct threat to basic rights. They are holding fossil fuel producers accountable, a shift that could lead to stricter regulations.
Recent landmark decisions from the International Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights emphasize that both states and corporations have a responsibility to mitigate climate harm. For the first time, French judges will determine if an oil giant can be legally required to cut fossil fuel production, shifting the focus from mere voluntary commitments to enforceable obligations.
A ruling in this case could be a game-changer, potentially reshaping how the world’s largest fossil fuel companies operate. The outcome might even influence similar cases globally, echoing the sentiments of Brighton Aryampa, an Environment and Human Rights Lawyer from Uganda. He noted, “The decision will resonate far beyond France, especially where communities bear the brunt of these projects. We hope the court sets a standard that curtails further exploitation.”
This case is pivotal. It signals a possible shift in how the law interprets corporate accountability in the face of climate change. It’s a crucial moment for not just France, but for the global effort to address climate issues and the responsibilities of those at the forefront.
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climate change,Climate trial,France,StopEACOP Coalition,TotalEnergies
