Italy’s Supreme Court Verdict Serves A Blow To Oil Company ENI, A Victory For People And Planet

In a landmark decision, Italy's highest court ruled that Italian judges can hear climate change lawsuits to protect people's human rights. This decision supports the appeal case filed in June 2024 by 12 Italian citizens, Greenpeace Italy, and ReCommon against energy giant ENI and its main shareholders, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A. (CDP), Italy’s development bank.[1]

“The Supreme Court establishes unequivocally that no one is above the law and that the interests of Big Oil cannot outweigh the rights of people to have their health and safety protected by courts. The protection of the fundamental human rights of citizens threatened by the climate emergency is above any other prerogative. Climate justice is now a key concern for Italy’s courts,” Greenpeace Italy and ReCommon said.

The landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of Cassation will significantly influence all current and future climate lawsuits in Italy, as well as the protection of climate-related human rights already recognised by the European Court of Human Rights.

The lawsuit against ENI, CDP and MEF, seeking redress for current and future damages resulting from climate change, will now continue before the Court of Rome.

Notes:

[1] In May 2023, the 12 Italian citizens and the two organisations filed a civil lawsuit against ENI, the MEF and CDP, - the latter two entities as shareholders exercising a dominant influence over ENI. The plaintiffs sought redress for current and future damages resulting from climate change, to which the Italian oil and gas giant has knowingly and significantly contributed over the decades. ENI, CDP and MEF contested the very authority of Italian courts to hear the case, arguing that climate lawsuits are not justiciable in Italy. Consequently, the 12 citizens, Greenpeace Italy and ReCommon appealed to the country’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Cassation, for a final decision on whether judges in Italy can decide on climate cases.

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