Paris Court Extends Duty of Vigilance to Scope 3 Emissions
The Paris Judicial Court's June 25, 2026 judgment in a climate-related duty of vigilance case against a major oil and gas company is the week's most consequential climate litigation development for corporate counsel. The court held that climate risks fall within the scope of France's 2017 duty of vigilance law and that Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions — approximately 90% of the company's total at
BY FRONTIER DESK · JULY 24, 2026 · 1 MIN READ
The Paris Judicial Court's June 25, 2026 judgment in a climate-related duty of vigilance case against a major oil and gas company is the week's most consequential climate litigation development for corporate counsel. The court held that climate risks fall within the scope of France's 2017 duty of vigilance law and that Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions — approximately 90% of the company's total at 342 MtCO2 per year — form part of the emissions resulting from the group's activity. The company's vigilance plan was found incomplete for excluding Scope 3, and the court enjoined it to complete the plan within six months, though it declined to impose specific reduction trajectories, confirming an obligation of means rather than result. The ruling, enforceable notwithstanding appeal, sets a significant precedent: Scope 3 is now squarely in scope for European duty of vigilance frameworks, and that logic will flow directly into CSDDD compliance guidance.