A French court Thursday ruled oil and gas giant TotalEnergies had engaged in "misleading commercial practices" by overstating its climate pledges, in what activists said was the first such ruling worldwide against a major oil company for climate misinformation.

The case could set a legal precedent for corporate environmental advertising, which is starting to face tighter regulations in the European Union.

In Europe, courts ruled against Dutch airline KLM in 2024 and Germany's Lufthansa in March for misleading consumers about their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of flying.

But ClientEarth, an organisation which closely monitors case law against the oil and gas industry, said Thursday's ruling was the first such conviction in the world against an oil company for corporate "gre

See Full Page