Multinational oil company Royal Dutch Shell has been ordered in court to cut its carbon emissions in order to protect the environment from climate change.

The landmark ruling, thought to be the first in history of its kind, demands the firm slashes its emissions by 45% by 2030 – compared with 2019 levels – to bring it in line with the Paris Agreement.

The outcome has far-reaching implications for the global fossil fuel industry and could pave the way for further climate litigation against big oil.

The court ruled that the Anglo-Dutch energy giant has a duty of care to reduce emissions and that its current reduction plans are not concrete enough.

Shell’s lawyers are deciding whether to appeal against the verdict. But even if it does, it must act on the ruling immediately, the judge Larisa Alwin said.

The historic verdict was handed down at the District Court of the Hague against Royal Dutch Shell, in a case brought by environmentalist and human rights groups including Friends of the Earth in the Netherlands (FOE NL).

The campaigners’ lawyers brought the case on the grounds that Shell had breached its legal duty of care and violated human rights.

Shell was the ninth biggest polluter in the world in 1988-2015, according to the Carbon Majors database.

Last year Shell committed to go “net zero” by 2050, which covers emissions from its operations as well as use of its oil and gas.

But this allows the oil major to rely on offsetting rather than pledging absolute cuts in emissions, meaning it could even increase fossil fuel production if it could offset alongside.

The campaigners believe Shell has “refused to take any responsibility” for “the destruction of our society and climate” which is why it has taken Shell to court to “answer for their actions”.

The verdict comes on the same day that shareholders voted on climate proposals at ExxonMobil and Chevron, leading some green groups to describe it as a “day of reckoning” for big oil.

Every day at 6.30pm Sky News broadcasts the first daily prime time news show dedicated to climate change.

Hosted by Anna Jones, The Daily Climate Show is following Sky News correspondents as they investigate how global warming is changing our landscape and how we all live our lives.

The show will also highlight solutions to the crisis and show how small changes can make a big difference.

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