Climate claims on trial
Greenwashing allegations against Santos could pave the way for increased litigation over corporate net-zero plans if the energy giant loses its ongoing Federal Court case.
Santos’ greenwashing legal battle in the Federal Court is being closely watched across corporate Australia as a test case for emission target disclosures.
The case, brought by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) is the first to challenge the veracity of a company’s net-zero plan.
Under scrutiny are statements made by Santos in its 2020 and 2021 investor-related documents, which included “net zero” emissions reduction plans and descriptions of natural gas as “clean energy” or of blue hydrogen as “clean” and "zero emissions".
As Squire Patton Boggs’ Sydney managing partner Graeme Slattery points out, "if the ACCR is successful, the environmental credentials of corporates will likely come under increased scrutiny regarding their net zero claims by environmentalist and activist groups".
