In the Farmer Case – the climate lawsuit between a Belgian farmer and three organisations on the one hand, and TotalEnergies on the other – the French multinational has lodged an appeal against the decision of the Tournai Commercial Court. On 18 March, the court declared the case admissible – a major step forward that strengthens climate case law. For the team behind the Farmer Case, this appeal by TotalEnergies shows that the company is taking the case seriously and fears consequences for its operations and business model.
In the midst of a heatwave, TotalEnergies has lodged an appeal against the decision of the Tournai Commercial Court. In its appeal, TotalEnergies criticises the entire decision handed down at first instance and continues to dispute its responsibility in the climate crisis.
As a reminder, on 18 March, the Commercial Court of Tournai had issued an initial favourable ruling in favour of farmer Hugues Falys and the NGOs supporting him (FIAN, Greenpeace and the Ligue des Droits Humains), by declaring the case admissible. As regards the substance of the case – TotalEnergies’ liability – the Tournai court had decided to await the outcome of another ongoing case before the Paris court, also directed against the oil giant.
Appeal against a major breakthrough
For Hugues Falys, the farmer bringing this climate lawsuit alongside the three NGOs – the League for Human Rights, FIAN and Greenpeace – one thing is clear: “This proves that TotalEnergies is by no means pleased with the decision of 18 March. And the multinational has reason to be afraid! By declaring the case admissible, the court has ruled that people affected by the climate crisis, such as myself, can take a company to court in Europe in the country where they have suffered harm. And this is regardless of where the company in question has its registered office.”
Business as usual
“Since the start of this legal case, the oil giant has sought to avoid any debate about its polluting activities”, state the NGOs supporting Hugues Falys in these proceedings. And with good reason: “TotalEnergies has the highest number of new fossil fuel extraction projects to its name. The multinational is continuing its climate-damaging policies unabated. The oil giant is even backtracking on the meagre climate ambitions it had previously set out.
As recently as March 2026, TotalEnergies announced that it was abandoning its target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Yet the record temperatures of recent days serve as a stark reminder of the catastrophic consequences of the climate crisis.” This reality makes a court order compelling the company to comply with the objectives of the Paris Agreement all the more necessary.
The Farmer Case heads to the court in Mons
This appeal by TotalEnergies will have an impact on the further course of the Farmer Case. The case (covering both admissibility and the merits) was initially brought before the Commercial Court of Tournai but will now proceed to the Court of Appeal in Mons.
In the meantime, the Farmer Case team is closely monitoring the decision of the Paris court, which is expected this coming Thursday, 25 June. TotalEnergies is being sued there by various NGOs and the City of Paris for failing to fulfil its duty of care. That case was the reason why the Commercial Court of Tournai suspended its ruling on the merits in March.
Contacts:
- press@thefarmercase.be
- LDH: +32 473 74 16 00
- Greenpeace: +32 496 26 31 91
- FIAN: +32 483 17 55 77
- International press: +33 7 81 21 26 05