An international alliance for local groups, communities and African and global organisations, StopEACOP, has welcomed the climate trial against TotalEnergies over failure to cut its greenhouse gas emissions and hydrocarbon production.

In a statement on Thursday by its digital and communications lead, Abiud Onyach, the coalition accused French prosecutors of intervening in support of TotalEnergies, arguing that the duty of vigilance framework should not extend to climate change.

The coalition said, “The StopEACOP coalition welcomes the opening of France’s first major climate trial against an oil and gas multinational, as proceedings begin on Thursday, 19 February, at the Paris Court of Justice. It is deplorable that the French prosecutor is actively trying to narrow the interpretation of this new law to protect an oil major from climate accountability.”

A case against French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies opened in Paris on Thursday over allegations that i failed to meet legal obligations to limit environmental harm.

The coalition slammed TotalEnergies over plans to continue its investment in fossil fuels till 2030 despite clear scientific consensus that no new expansion is compatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C.

“As one of the world’s largest historical emitters and among the top global oil and gas companies, TotalEnergies continues to plan production growth of around 3% per year, while maintaining the majority of its investments in fossil fuels until at least 2030.

“The company is linked to dozens of major new fossil fuel projects worldwide, despite clear scientific consensus that no new expansion is compatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C,” the coalition stated.

Citing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a 1,443 km pipeline under construction aimed at transporting crude oil from The Great Lakes Region in Uganda to the Port of Tanga in Tanzania, the coalition said the project faced environmental and human rights criticism after dozens of global financial institutions distanced themselves from the project.

Accusing TotalEnergies of using many procedural arguments to try to escape from its liability, the coalition said the hearing came at a pivotal moment for global climate accountability, noting that the case moves litigation beyond promises towards enforceable obligations.

“This hearing will finally be held, six years after the case was filed, as TotalEnergies has used many procedural arguments to try to escape from its liability. In parallel, delays have also been piling up in the other court case against TotalEnergies – likely based on the French duty of vigilance law, filed by Ugandan affected people as well as five Ugandan and French civil society organizations.

“For the first time in France, judges will be asked to decide whether an oil and gas multinational can be legally compelled to reduce fossil fuel production, not merely disclose risks or set voluntary targets. This case moves climate litigation beyond promises and pledges toward concrete, enforceable obligations,” it noted.

In his remarks, a community organiser with the EACOP host communities organisation, Balach Bakundane, accused TotalEnergies of reneging on its promises while disrupting families and livelihoods.

A lawyer with youth for green communities, Uganda, Brighton Aryampa, also said, “The decision from this court will travel and be felt far beyond France, including here along the EACOP route where communities carry the heaviest costs. We hope that the court does not set a standard that enables further expansion and exploitation while we are made to live with the damage. The law must mean something in the real world, lest it mean nothing at all.”

“We have heard the promises and targets, but on the EACOP route we live the reality. Families pushed off of their land, livelihoods disrupted, fear used to silence those who speak out. This case matters because it asks whether TotalEnergies can keep expanding oil and gas with no consequences. If there is to be justice then we need to draw a line in the sand. No more expansion. No more impunity. No more profiteering at our expense,” Mr Bakundane stated.