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| Justice scales highlight climate accountability global fight |
Italy’s highest court has cleared the way for a landmark climate lawsuit against energy giant Eni. The Court of Cassation ruled on July 22, 2025, that Italian judges can hear a human-rights case tied to Eni’s emissions . The decision keeps alive claims by Greenpeace Italia, ReCommon and twelve citizens seeking accountability for climate damage .
The case began in May 2023 when activists and affected residents sued Eni and its government shareholders. They argued the company’s fossil fuel activities breached basic rights to life and health by worsening climate change at home and abroad . Eni and state entities owning 31.8 percent of its shares asked to dismiss the suit on jurisdiction grounds. The court rejected their request .
This ruling sends the case back to Rome’s civil court. There, judges will examine evidence on how Eni’s emissions affect weather patterns, health outcomes and local economies in Italy . It follows a wave of European decisions that hold fossil fuel firms to account under human rights laws.
Plaintiffs named Eni’s 2020 emissions as a baseline, seeking a court order to cut them by 45 percent by 2030 to meet Paris goals . They cited rising heatwaves in Veneto’s Polesine delta and worsening droughts in Piedmont . Twelve citizens from these regions joined Greenpeace and ReCommon to highlight personal harm from floods, storms and water shortages.
Eni pushed back. In press releases, the group said its decarbonisation plan meets Italy’s sustainability and energy security needs . The company called the suit groundless and vowed to prove its climate strategy aligns with global goals. Eni’s CEO plans to stress that gas remains a bridge fuel in Europe’s energy transition.
Environmental lawyers say the Cassation ruling breaks new ground. It confirms Italian courts can try cases based on emissions from foreign subsidiaries if key decisions happened domestically. That opens the door to suits over projects in Africa and Asia where Eni operates . This may spur similar claims in Germany, France and the Netherlands.
Greenpeace Italia hailed the decision as a breakthrough. They argued no company stands above the law on climate change. ReCommon’s director added it shows courts can protect citizens from corporate harm. The groups plan to submit expert reports on climate science, health data and economic costs in coming months .
Critics warn the trial could drag on for years, tying up courts and delaying climate action. They call instead for stronger EU regulations and faster policy measures. Still, many see legal pressure as a key tool to push companies toward deeper emission cuts.
The case follows the 2021 Milieudefensie v. Shell verdict in The Hague, where judges ordered Shell to cut emissions by 45 percent by 2030 . Italian activists hope the Cassation decision will echo that outcome and set a national precedent.
Analysts note Italy’s energy mix still relies on fossil fuels for over 70 percent of needs. Eni is central, producing oil and gas that feed domestic power plants. Its investments in renewables remain small compared to its core operations. The court’s affirmation of jurisdiction may force the group to speed up green projects to defend its climate plan in court.
Roman civil judges will now weigh scientific studies linking Eni’s emissions to local warming trends. Plaintiffs cite a 2024 report by Italy’s National Institute for Environmental Protection showing average temperatures in the Po Valley rose by 1.8 °C since 1990 . They also point to health data linking heatwaves to a 20 percent spike in respiratory hospital admissions in 2023.
Eni will present its own data. The firm commissioned analyses by external experts to argue its carbon footprint declines year by year. It plans to show that gas, when replacing coal, cut Italy’s power-sector emissions by 40 percent since 2015 .
Legal observers expect the first hearings by early 2026. If judges rule for the plaintiffs, Eni could face orders to slash operations or pay damages. That outcome may alarm investors and ripple through European energy markets.
Italy’s government holds a big stake in Eni through state lender CDP and the Finance Ministry. Some lawmakers worry a court order could limit Italy’s energy security or conflict with government climate policy. Others welcome the ruling, saying accountability must guide national plans.
Across Europe, climate litigation has surged. NGOs have filed over 2,000 cases against governments and firms since 2015. Courts in Ireland, Belgium and Norway have opened similar suits. The Cassation ruling adds Italy to the growing list of jurisdictions recognizing climate rights under human-rights charters.
This ruling also highlights tensions between public participation and investor rights. Eni had filed defamation suits against activists and journalists, calling them SLAPPs. Critics say such tactics aim to silence dissent and chill activism . Environmentalists counter that companies misuse courts to fight media coverage rather than defend their legal claims.
The Cassation decision will shape Italy’s legal landscape for decades. It affirms that citizens can use courts to seek climate justice. That message resonates with youth movements and local communities demanding faster action on heatwaves, floods and wildfires .
As the case moves to Rome, both sides prepare for a marathon trial. Plaintiffs will call climate scientists and healthcare experts. Eni will bring economists and engineers to defend its green roadmap. Judges must balance technical evidence with human rights principles.
The next phases could inspire new laws in Italy to regulate corporate emissions. Parliament may tighten disclosure rules or set clearer liability standards. Courts may invoke international treaties on climate and human rights.
For now, the Cassation court has made clear: Italy’s top judges will not bar citizens from holding fossil fuel firms to account. That milestone signals a new era in environmental law, where human rights and climate science meet in the courtroom.