Why is the Dutch climate case against Shell important to our partners in the Global South?
On November 12th, a new ruling will be issued by the Court of Appeal in The Hague in the climate case against Shell, in which Both ENDS is a co-plaintiff. Ahead of this ruling, we asked our partners why this Dutch lawsuit is important for the Global South.
ALY SAGNE - Director Lumière Synergie pour le Développement - Senegal
"We care about our land, water and our lives. So, holding Shell to account for its climate legacy matters for the African people too."
FATOUMATA MBODJI - Communication and Advocacy officer Lumière Synergie pour le Développement - Senegal
"Together, we can ensure that the big oil companies can no longer escape their environmental responsibilities. We firmly believe that this case against Shell is an essential step for climate justice."
ALEJANDRO MEITÍN - Founder of Casa Río Lab
“The Shell oil spill, which occurred 25 years ago in the Río de la Plata, Argentina, is considered the largest freshwater disaster of its kind. This environmental event had a devastating impact on riparian ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. However, to date, Shell has not faced any penalties for its responsibility. We believe that a conviction in international instances could demonstrate forcefully that the value of justice prevails in defense of life and the environment." (Translated from Spanish)
WOMEN IN ACTION ON MINING IN ASIA (WAMA)
"WAMA (Women in Action on Mining in Asia), a regional solidarity alliance raising the voices of women affected by extractive industries, strongly condems the long-standing human rights violations against the Ogoni people of Nigeria, who have been protecting their biodiversity-rich land and natural resources from environmental destruction. We have observed the suffering of our Ogoni sisters whose voices have been repeatedly suppressed by military actions. Acts of violence, unjust trials, and unimaginable cruelty against the indigenous people of Nigeria were and are, overtly and covertly, a result of Shell’s overarching power over the government and its military dictatorship.
Women and children have suffered the most, losing their health, families, access to food, and safety. The continued intimidation and violence against women must be stopped immediately. A fair trial by the International Tribunal is extremely important for the Ogoni, who have no hope for justice in their own country.
Shell operations are not only causing human rights violations but are also seriously harming the climate with emissions from their oil and gas extraction. While the Dutch government is spending public funds to combat the climate crisis, Dutch companies like Shell are destroying ecosystems and indigenous communities that take care of these ecosystems.
We, the inidenous, pastoral, rural women of Asia, demand that Shell immediately stop its environmental destruction, reduce its emissions by 45 percent, and phase out oil and gas. We appeal to the honorable court and the government of the Netherlands to intervene, halt the crimes of Shell, and uphold the principles of international human rights and the laws of Mother Earth."
FLORENCIA ORTÚZAR GREENE - Attorney Asociación Interamericana para la
Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA)
"Thank you, colleagues, for your courage in leading this strategic case against Shell, which addresses the root causes of climate injustice. Cases like this offer hope and strengthen the international movement working tirelessly for a just and peaceful world."
ARYAMPA BRIGHTON - Youth for Green Communities (YGC) - Uganda
"Solving the climate crisis is the greatest and most complex challenge that we have ever faced. But the main solution is simple, we must stop our emissions of greenhouse gases and hold major polluters accountable for the ongoing human rights abuses and livelihood disruptions. This case pronouncement is timely and important to emphasize strict adherence to Paris agreement and imposing legal obligations on shell and other major polluters."
We at Both ENDS would like to thank all partners who answered our call and send in their quotes.
Read more about this subject
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Dossier /The Climate lawsuit against Shell
Both ENDS is co-plaintiff in the climate lawsuit brought by Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth The Netherlands) in 2018 against Shell to stop the company from causing harm to the climate. In 2021, the judge ruled in favor of the climate, but unfortunately the company appealed. The court will therefore render its verdict at the end of 2024.
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Dossier /Dare to Trust: the power of unconditional funding
At Both ENDS we cherish our long-term relationships with partners in our global network. These relationships are based on equality and built on trust. The trust we have in each other has developed from years of strategic cooperation, including joint advocacy around common agendas, knowledge sharing, networking, and mobilising and sharing resources to advance environmental justice.
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News / 29 September 2026Summary - Both ENDS complaint under the EU-New Zealand trade agreement
On 29 September 2026, Both ENDS lodged the first complaint on climate grounds with the European Commission's Single Entry Point. It asks the Commission to examine whether Aotearoa New Zealand has broken two promises both sides made in the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement: not to weaken or set aside environmental laws in order to encourage trade or investment, and to effectively implement the Paris Agreement.
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Publication / 29 September 2026
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Publication / 29 September 2026
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News / 29 September 2026Q&A: New Zealand's climate rollback and the EU trade agreement
On 29 September 2026 / 30 September in Aotearoa New Zealand, Both ENDS lodged a complaint with the European Commission under the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement. These are the questions we are asked most often, and our answers. The complaint summary, the case explainer and the key public sources are linked at the end of this page.
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News / 29 September 2026What happens now? A timeline of the SEP Case
What happens now? On 29 September 2026 / 30 September in Aotearoa New Zealand, Both ENDS lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission. It is the first complaint to the EU's Single Entry Point on environmental and climate grounds. It asks the Commission to hold New Zealand to two promises it made in its trade agreement with the EU: not to weaken environmental protection to encourage trade or investment, and not to undermine the Paris Agreement on climate change.
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Press release / 29 September 2026New Zealand faces its first climate complaint under EU trade rules
UTRECHT / WELLINGTON, 29 September 2026 /30 September in Aotearoa New Zealand
Both ENDS, a Dutch environmental justice organisation, has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission arguing that New Zealand has broken the climate promises it made in its free trade agreement with the European Union. It is the first complaint on environmental and climate grounds under the Commission's Single Entry Point, the mechanism that lets civil society ask the EU to enforce the sustainability commitments in its trade agreements.
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Dossier /Trade agreements
International trade agreements often have far-reaching consequences not only for the economy of a country, but also for people and the environment. It is primarily the most vulnerable groups who suffer most from these agreements.
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News / 3 September 2026Restoring Land, Restoring Hope: Both ENDS at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia
From 17 to 28 August, governments gathered in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, for COP17 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). At stake was more than how the world responds to land degradation and drought. It was also a question of who gets to shape land restoration, whose knowledge counts, and where the money goes.
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News / 6 July 2026Strengthening Women's Land Rights Across the Rio Conventions
From 29 June – 2 July 2026, Tamara Mohr, GAGGA coordinator at Both ENDS participated in the 4th convening of the Women's Land Rights Initiative (WLRI) in Nairobi, Kenya.Hosted by the Robert Bosch Stiftung, TMG Research and the Huairou Commission, the event brought together grassroots organisations, (inter)national NGOs, government institutions and donors from around the world.
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Publication / 3 July 2026
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Dossier /Gas in Mozambique
In 2011 one of the world’s largest gas reserves was found in the coastal province of Cabo Delgado, in the north of Mozambique. A total of 35 billion dollars has been invested to extract the gas. Dozens of multinationals and financiers are involved in these rapid developments. It is very difficult for the people living in Cabo Delgado to exert influence on the plans and activities, while they experience the negative consequences. With the arrival of these companies, they are losing their land.
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Dossier /Finance for agroecology
The lion's share of public budgets for climate, agriculture and development still goes to conventional agroindustrial projects that contribute to the current climate, food and biodiversity crises. Both ENDS and our partners are calling for a transition to agroecological practices that are people- and environment-friendly.
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Publication / 12 May 2026
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Press release / 12 May 2026UN report warns of a growing sand crisis - The Dutch dredging sector plays a key role in global sand extraction
GENEVA/UTRECHT, 12 May 2026 – A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sand and Sustainability: An Essential Resource for Nature and Development, warns that global demand for sand is exceeding ecological limits. Large-scale extraction of sand from marine and coastal ecosystems is leading to biodiversity loss, damage to coastal communities and increasing risks in an era of climate change. Dutch dredging companies play a prominent role in this as global market leaders in large-scale sand extraction and land reclamation. “Our analyses show that the dredging sector operates globally within a system in which ecological damage and the consequences for coastal communities are systematically underestimated, whilst transparency and effective oversight are often lacking,” says the Dutch environmental and human rights organisation Both ENDS, which contributed to the report.
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Dossier /Rights for People, Rules for Corporations – Stop ISDS!
Indigenous communities in Paraguay saw their attempts to regain their ancestral lands thwarted by German investors. In Indonesia, US-based mining companies succeeded to roll back new laws that were meant to boost the country’s economic development and protect its forests. This is the level of impact that investment treaties can have on social, environmental and economic development and rights. Why? Because of the ‘Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement’ clauses that are included in many such treaties.
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Publication / 14 April 2026
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News / 9 April 2026Minister Sjoerdsma hosts roundtable conversations with civil society
This week, Minister Sjoerdsma organized roundtable conversations with civil society organizations – a valuable initiative that brings together Dutch civil society voices to address critical challenges faced by democratic societies.
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News / 19 March 2026Winners of the ILED ‘Women Are Educators Award’ announced
Our partner organisation ILED (Indigenous-led Education Network) announced the seven winners of the ILED ‘Women Are Educators Award’ this month. These are women who play extraordinary roles in passing on knowledge, whether in formal or informal educational settings.
