Oil and gas major Shell on Tuesday won an appeal against a landmark ruling that required it to accelerate carbon reduction efforts, dealing a blow to campaigners who have turned to legal channels to pursue climate action.

A Dutch appeals court has overturned a landmark ruling that ordered energy company Shell to cut its carbon emissions by net 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.

The COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, got off to a sombre start as climate scientists warned the world is now in the ‘final countdown to limit global temperature rise.’ On the same day, oil giant Shell won its appeal against a 2021 ruling that would have forced it to radically reduce its carbon emissions by 2030.