A class action lawsuit filed in the federal district court for the Eastern District of Virginia alleged that the operator of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) misled the plaintiff and other consumers with “words, promises, commitments, plans, and pictures … about its efforts to limit the effect of climate change.” The allegedly misleading actions included KLM’s commitment to reduce emissions by 12% below 2019 levels by 2030, enticements for customers to “offset” and “reduce” environmental impacts through KLM’s CO2ZERO program, KLM’s focus on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and emission reduction projections based on a “well below 2°C scenario.” The plaintiff alleged that carbon offsets and credits would not negate the impacts of flying, that SAF would have “a negligible effect on reducing CO2 emissions from flying,” and that KLM’s emissions reduction targets were not consistent with the Paris Agreement, CO2ZERO, or carbon neutrality. The plaintiff alleged breach of contract and unjust enrichment claims, as well as a claim under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act of 1977.

Greenwashing action against operator of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for allegedly misleading consumers about efforts to limit the effects of climate change.

Long v. Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, N.V.

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Greenwashing Lawsuit Against KLM Alleged Misrepresentations Regarding Emissions Reduction Commitments and Actions

Filed

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Tradable permits are market-based tools that grant permission for specific activities, frequently used to regulate emissions. These permits can be issued within a trading system to manage environmental impacts.

A target to reduce the prevalence of a greenhouse gas over a specific time frame

A commitment to balance GHG emissions with removal by a certain point in time, effectively reducing the net emissions to zero

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Actions or measures to adapt terrestrial systems to climate change.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

A potent, short-lived greehouse gas, largely released from livestock, fossil fuel extraction and waste management.

Actions to reduce emissions in energy generation and supply.

This sector involves activities to move goods and people, alongside the storage of products.

Activities that provide lodging, food, and entertainment services to guests, including hotels, restaurants, and resorts.

Activities of government agencies and institutions that provide public services, enforce laws and manage public resources.

Activities that relate to the production of goods and services from forests.

Slow onset events evolve gradually from incremental changes over many years or from increased frequency or intensity of recurring events. As defined in the Cancun Adaptation Framework (2010), slow onset events include risks and impacts from rising temperatures, desertification, biodiversity loss, land and forest degradation, glacial retreat, ocean acidification, sea level rise, and salinization.

Greenwashing Lawsuit Against KLM Alleged Misrepresentations Regarding Emissions Reduction Commitments and Actions

Target

Policy instrument

Risk

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance