GreenFaith Africa welcomes the landmark decision by the Paris Judicial Court holding TotalEnergies accountable for failing to meet its climate vigilance obligations by excluding the vast majority of its greenhouse gas emissions, those generated through the use of its fossil fuel products.
This historic ruling sends a powerful message,fossil fuel companies cannot continue to profit from climate destruction while shifting responsibility onto consumers. By affirming that TotalEnergies must account for its full emissions footprint, including Scope 3 emissions, the court has reinforced a simple but vital principle,those who fuel the climate crisis must be held accountable for its consequences.
For communities across East Africa, this decision resonates deeply. The same company now ordered to strengthen its climate vigilance plan continues to push forward the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a project that threatens ecosystems, displaces communities, undermines livelihoods, and locks Uganda, Tanzania, and the wider region into decades of fossil fuel dependence at a time when the world must rapidly transition to clean energy.
If TotalEnergies is legally required to acknowledge and address the climate impacts of its global operations, then it cannot justify expanding fossil fuel infrastructure through EACOP. The project is fundamentally incompatible with the scientific imperative to limit global warming to 1.5°C and with the growing legal expectation that corporations prevent foreseeable harm to people and the planet.
STOP EACOP
We therefore call on TotalEnergies to heed the message of the French court by immediately halting the EACOP project and abandoning plans for further fossil fuel expansion. Instead, the company should invest in a just equitable and renewable energy transition that respects human rights, protects biodiversity, safeguards local communities, and supports Africa’s abundant renewable energy potential.
We also urge governments, financial institutions, insurers, and investors to recognize that this ruling marks a turning point in corporate climate accountability. Continuing to support EACOP exposes institutions not only to significant climate and human rights risks but also to growing legal, financial, and reputational liabilities.
The people of East Africa deserve development that protects life, strengthens resilience, and secures a livable futurenot another fossil fuel project that deepens the climate crisis.
The era of impunity for fossil fuel expansion is coming to an end. It is time for TotalEnergies to listen to the courts, respect communities, and stop EACOP once and for all.
#StopEACOP #ClimateJustice #Faiths4Climate #JustEnergyTransition