Lunchtime talk with Milieudefensie

Find out how Milieudefensie, Friends of the Earth’s sister group in the Netherlands, took on Royal Dutch Shell and won a historic legal case

On May 26, 2021 at 3 pm, the District Court in The Hague ruled that one of the world’s largest polluters, Royal Dutch Shell, must stop causing dangerous climate change. This is a tremendous victory for climate, for the millions of people around the world threatened by dangerous climate change, the 17,000 co-claimants and the thousands of people who have supported this case.

The impact of this victory does not stop in the boardroom of Shell. What we are witnessing is a signal to all major polluters. They can no longer sit back. Milieudefensie is also looking at politics, in the Netherlands and in Europe. Politicians should read the verdict carefully and use it to their advantage. No lawsuits should be needed to protect citizens.

During this lunchtime talk Donald Pols, Director of Milieudefensie, will reflect on this landmark ruling and the implications on other companies and governments.

About Donald: Donald has a lifelong commitment to a society in harmony with nature for the sake of nature and the human society that depends on it.

As director of Milieudefensie, Donald works on climate justice: the necessary ambitious climate policy will only succeed if it is fair and social. After the Climate Case against Shell won by Milieudefensie, Pols is more than ever a climate optimist.

The New York Times wrote: “Startling Defeats Push Oil Giants Towards a ‘Tipping Point’.” De Volkskrant wrote: “Is Shell the Kodak of our time? Or will Shell choose a different direction thanks to people like Van Baal, Donald Pols of Milieudefensie and the judge in The Hague?”

Donald previously participated – as an expert in financing the transition – on delegations from WWF International and the Dutch government in UNFCCC negotiations. He worked as WWF International’s Natural Resources Program Director in Beijing; as director of WWF China’s Climate Energy program; as head of WWF’s climate program and as senior advisor environment and nature in the Dutch parliament. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Law, an MA in Liberal Arts and MSc in Environmental Management.

Lunchtime talks

This is part of a series of 60 minute webinars and discussions for Friends of the Earth staff, local group members and Climate Action Group activists. These talks are designed to stimulate thinking and increase awareness of different approaches to campaigning and the issues other campaigns are tackling.

They might not always be directly related to our core campaigns at Friends of the Earth. They might not even be at lunchtime! But they will give us food for thought more broadly about challenges and opportunities facing the environmental movement.

During this webinar we will use:

• Powerpoint

Please let us know via the booking form if you have any accessibility requirements and if booking the session is difficult for you get in touch with us on community@foe.co.uk for help.

Register your (free) place via Eventbrite.

Event Details