Climate change – Human Rights Insights

Climate risks fall under the scope of the French Duty of Vigilance Law court says in the case against TotalEnergies

In the first climate lawsuit against a multinational company in France, on 25 June 2026, the Paris civil court (ruling in French) recognised the inclusion of climate risks under the scope of the Duty of vigilance law and ordered TotalEnergies, one of the world largest oil and gas producers, to complement its vigilance plan within 6 months to include as part of its risk mapping scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions (all indirect emissions arising in the company’s value chain, including emissions resulting from the use of the company’s oil and gas products) as well as appropriated measures to mitigate and prevent the company’s impact on the climate.

Denied asylum-seekers’ right to life must be protected from climate change says the Human Rights Committee

On 7 January 2020, the UN Human Rights Committee for the first time ruled on the consequences of climate change in the context of refugee status’ denial, and in regards to the right to life enshrined in Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).