TotalEnergies Accused in France of Greenwashing After Rebrand

TotalEnergies SE was accused in a French court of greenwashing by misleading consumers about its climate goals in a series of ad campaigns just after it rebranded and changed its name from Total.

A group of nonprofits, which include Greenpeace France, attacked TotalEnergies’ claim that it could achieve net zero emissions by 2050, saying it was incompatible with its continued expansion in oil production.

“The climate communications of TotalEnergies suggest that the company was transforming,” Clémentine Baldon said during a Thursday hearing at a Paris court. She said it produced a “false impression” among consumers that the company was contributing ...