Climate change at center stage in TotalEnergies' French due-diligence trial
By Louis de Briant ( February 19, 2026, 10:11 GMT | Insight) -- French energy group TotalEnergies is on trial this week, as a Paris court is tasked with determining whether climate change falls within the scope of France's duty of vigilance law. In an opinion seen by MLex, the public prosecutor argues against such an interpretation and recommends waiting for the European Commission's forthcoming guidelines on an EU directive on the matter, which was recently weakened by lawmakers.In a case that could prove influential, a Paris court is this week examining whether petrogiant TotalEnergies' obligations under France's duty of vigilance law encompass climate change....
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