In a report entitled TotalEnergies’ Carbon Footprint Doesn’t Add Up published on 3 November 2022, Greenpeace affirms, among other things, that TotalEnergies’ Scope 1 emissions based on equity share allegedly exceeded 160 million tonnes of CO2e in 2019.

However, the Scope 1 emissions based on equity share reported by TotalEnergies for 2019 amounted to 55 million tonnes of CO2e.

Greenpeace said its investigation started when it commenced scrutinising the carbon footprints of the largest European oil and gas companies, and in particular that of Shell.

“While it [Shell] produces and sells 1.2 times more and 1.6 times more than TotalEnergies, its British competitor claims to emit three to four times more CO2,” Greenpeace said.

In view of the investigation’s results, Greenpeace contacted the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF).

“These new estimates on the real climate impact of TotalEnergies and its misleading communication on its net zero 2050 commitments (which is already the subject of an appeal) are likely to reveal contradictions, inaccuracies and sanctionable omissions,” Greenpeace said.

In response, TotalEnergies said the figure of 160 million tonnes of CO2e provided by Greenpeace for TotalEnergies’ 2019 Scope 1 emissions based on equity share is “fanciful and false”.

“Greenpeace’s spreading of misleading information on this subject is serious in that it concerns the quality and reliability of TotalEnergies’ disclosures concerning its direct greenhouse gas emissions over which it has control.”

Consequently, TotalEnergies has decided to initiate legal proceedings to repair the damage caused by the spreading of this misleading information by Greenpeace.

Greenpeace said they “are fully prepared to engage in a legal debate on the reality of the climate impact of TotalEnergies’ activities”.