Today’s Solutions: May 22, 2025

In a landmark ruling for the environment, a Dutch court has ordered Royal Dutch Shell to significantly reduce its emissions. In a judgement delivered by a district court in The Hague this week, the oil company must cut its CO2 emissions by 45 percent of 2019 levels by 2030. 

The case was brought against Shell by Friends of the Earth Netherlands and, according to the environmental group, this is the first time that a court has ordered a company to reduce their own emissions and those from the energy products it sells to support global climate goals. 

Shell’s current corporate climate goals commit them to a 20 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, but this new ruling will force them to accelerate that timeline. While Shell argues that its current climate goals are in line with the Paris Agreement commitments, Friends of the Earth disagree. This point formed the basis of the court case. 

Shell and other fossil fuel companies are facing mounting pressure from the public to transition to greener energy operations. Back in February, Nigerian farmers won a 13-year case against Shell for oil spill damages on their land.

Solutions News Source Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

Poland expands free health screenings to adults aged 20 and up

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Poland is taking a major step toward preventive healthcare with the launch of a free nationwide screening program ...

Read More

Sorry, not sorry? Science says sincerity is in your syllables

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Finding the right words to say "I’m sorry" can be hard—especially if you want the other person to ...

Read More

Humpback whales may sing their beautiful songs to “see”

Have you ever been so fortunate as to have heard the long and complex song of a humpback whale? Marine biologists have long thought ...

Read More

How to keep your garden snake-free

We decided to dust off this older story which offers some great solutions.  In many parts of the world, the summer is also snake ...

Read More