Business and human rights implications of climate change litigation: <i>Milieudefensie et al</i> . <i>v Royal Dutch Shell</i>

In Milieudefensie et al. v Royal Dutch Shell, the District Court in Hague ordered respondent company to cut its global carbon dioxide emissions by 45 percent 2030, as compared with 2019 levels. The landmark judgement represents first imposition of a specific mitigation obligation on private over and above reduction targets set existing ‘cap-and-trade’ regulations and/or other governmental policies. interpreting Shell's duty care under tort law, referred extensively international soft including United Nations Guiding Principles Business Human Rights. This note considers implications this case for corporate responsibility environmental human rights.