TotalEnergies Loses In Paris Court, Marking A Turning Point For Fossil Fuel Truth-In-Advertising - CleanTechnica

In October 2025, a Paris court ruled that TotalEnergies, the French oil giant, misled consumers with its advertising and public statements about its role in the energy transition. The court found that TotalEnergies’ claims of being a “major player in the energy transition” and “on the path to net zero by 2050” were deceptive under French consumer protection law, marking the first legal accountability for greenwashing of a fossil fuel company in France. The case was brought by environmental groups Greenpeace France, Friends of the Earth, and Notre Affaire à Tous, who argued that TotalEnergies’ messaging created a false impression for consumers by promoting a transition leadership image while continuing to expand oil and gas production. The court’s decision highlighted the contradiction between TotalEnergies’ public narrative and its actual business practices. Despite rebranding in 2021 with a focus on renewable energy imagery and language, over 90% of the company’s 2023 revenue still came from hydrocarbons,