• Totalenergies To Appeal French Court Ruling Under Duty Of Vigilance Law

French energy company TotalEnergies said it would appeal a June 25, 2026 ruling by the Paris Judicial Court in a case brought by several associations under France’s duty of vigilance law.

The company said the law is intended to promote responsible corporate conduct by requiring companies to identify and address risks arising from their own operations, those of their subsidiaries, and those of their suppliers and subcontractors.

However, it argued that the law does not extend to the activities of customers, over which companies have no control.

“TotalEnergies does not decide whether a motorist chooses to drive a petrol-powered vehicle, use biodiesel or drive an electric vehicle,” the company said in a statement on Monday.

The company said its role is to ensure consumers have access to the energy products they choose to use.

It added that requiring companies in the energy, defence, aeronautics and automotive sectors to manage risks arising from customers’ use of their products would be inconsistent with the objectives of the law, as well as the principles of legal certainty and the freedom to conduct business.

TotalEnergies also said the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) does not include customers’ activities within its scope.

The company said it would present these arguments before the Paris Court of Appeal.