Finance
Belgian Court Postpones Ruling in TotalEnergies Climate Case Brought by Farmer
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
Quick Summary
A Belgian court has delayed its ruling in a groundbreaking climate lawsuit by farmer Hugues Falys against TotalEnergies until September 9, pending a similar French decision expected June 25.
Belgium court says it has jurisdiction in farmer's climate case against TotalEnergies
Belgian Court Considers Landmark Climate Lawsuit Against TotalEnergies
By Charlotte Van Campenhout
Background of the Case
TOURNAI, Belgium, March 18 (Reuters) - A Belgian court said on Wednesday it had jurisdiction in a case against French company TotalEnergies brought by a local farmer, the first such climate change-related lawsuit in Belgium, though it postponed its decision to September.
The Plaintiff: Hugues Falys
Hugues Falys, a cattle farmer in the municipality of Lessines, has sought 135,000 euros ($155,412) in compensation from the oil and gas firm for damage caused by climate change that he said his farm had suffered. He has also asked for a legal order for the company to halt investments in new fossil fuel projects.
Context: Similar Climate Lawsuits Worldwide
The Belgium case follows a series of similar complaints lodged in other countries by farmers and activist groups against oil majors, power utilities and banks to force them to stop investing in or financing fossil fuel projects.
International Precedents
In 2023, a French court declined to consider a case brought by a coalition of environmental groups seeking to force TotalEnergies to cut emissions. A Peruvian farmer lost a similar lawsuit last year against German utility RWE.
Court Proceedings and Immediate Reactions
On Wednesday, the court in Tournai said it had jurisdiction in the case brought by Falys, dismissing TotalEnergies' claim that it could not be heard in Belgium.
"We have won a victory on the admissibility of the case, on the jurisdiction of the Belgian court to try a multinational company based in France; this is a very important point for any future lawsuits," Falys said after the hearing.
The court pushed back its verdict until September 9 as it said it wanted to wait for the judgment in a similar case in France, which is expected on June 25.
Spokespersons for TotalEnergies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Implications and Potential Impact
TotalEnergies' Responsibility and Farmer's Intentions
Falys argued that as one of the world's top 20 CO2-emitting companies, TotalEnergies is partly responsible for the damage inflicted by extreme weather on his operations between 2016 and 2022. He pledged to donate any compensation he received to a farming organization.
Legal and Social Significance
The court's decision on admissibility was a step in the right direction as it allows any victim of climate change to sue big companies, said Matthias Petel of NGO Ligue des Droits Humains, which supported Falys in the case.
Possible Precedent for Future Cases
A legal victory for Falys could set a precedent for other farmers, who could sue other oil majors.
Additional Information
($1 = 0.8687 euros)
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Inti Landauro; Editing by Bart Meijer and Pooja Desai)
Key Takeaways
- •This case marks Belgium’s first climate-related lawsuit targeting a multinational, with farmer Hugues Falys seeking damages and a court-ordered halt to TotalEnergies’ fossil-fuel investments (business-humanrights.org).
- •The court postponed its verdict to September 9 to await a judgment in a parallel case in France, expected on June 25 (apnews.com).
- •Falys argues TotalEnergies is among the world’s top CO₂ emitters and responsible for drought-driven crop losses between 2016 and 2022, while TotalEnergies denies liability and says climate policy is mainly a government responsibility (euronews.com).
References
- Belgium: Farmer's climate lawsuit challenges TotalEnergies over alleged role in global warming - Business and Human Rights Centre
- Belgian farmer sues French energy giant for damage caused by climate change
- EU farmer takes oil giant TotalEnergies to court in groundbreaking hearing over climate damages | Euronews
Frequently Asked Questions about Belgian court postpones ruling in TotalEnergies climate case brought by farmer
1Why was the Belgian court's ruling in the TotalEnergies climate case postponed?
The ruling was postponed to await a verdict in a similar case in France, expected on June 25.
2What is the basis of the lawsuit against TotalEnergies in Belgium?
A local farmer is suing TotalEnergies for climate change-related damages to his farm and seeking to halt new fossil fuel investments.
3What period of extreme weather is cited in the case against TotalEnergies?
The case cites extreme weather from 2016 to 2022 that reduced yields and affected livestock.
4Did the Belgian court accept jurisdiction in the case against TotalEnergies?
Yes, the court in Tournai said it had jurisdiction over the case, allowing it to proceed.
5Why is this climate lawsuit significant in Belgium?
It is the first climate change-related lawsuit in Belgium targeting a multinational company, setting a legal precedent.
