Emissions disclosures frequently overlook methane, a potent greenhouse gas, due to its hidden impact in environmental degradation, as explained in this article titled "Gaslighting: why methane remains a blind spot in emissions disclosures".
In a recent court case in Paris, TotalEnergies, a leading energy company, is facing accusations of greenwashing and misleading consumers about the climate impact of its fossil fuel activities, particularly concerning natural gas.
The controversy revolves around TotalEnergies' portrayal of natural gas as a "low carbon" solution. Critics argue that this marketing strategy downplays the significant greenhouse gas emissions and role in climate change.
While it is true that natural gas emits less carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal or oil when burned, it still produces considerable emissions, including methane (CH4), a significant greenhouse gas with a global warming potential around 28 times that of CO2. Methane leaks during extraction and transport contribute to these emissions.
TotalEnergies' 2025 Sustainability and Climate Progress Report, available on their website, discusses this issue. The report states that the company aims to continue producing energy while reducing industrial emissions, and moving towards zero methane by 2030. However, it also projects a significant shift in sales towards gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which will increase total Scope 3 emissions.
The company's 2030 goals include more energy production, although with lower emissions intensity, not a reduction in absolute levels of emissions. This shift in focus is also part of TotalEnergies' corporate growth strategy, which includes growing the market for its gas alongside renewable generation.
The argument against TotalEnergies' portrayal of natural gas as a low-carbon solution is that it obscures the full climate impact of fossil fuels, undermines genuine green transition efforts, and manipulates public perception to maintain fossil fuel business models under a guise of sustainability.
This criticism is part of a broader scrutiny of oil majors’ climate claims, where investments in true low-carbon energy remain small compared to fossil fuel operations, fueling accusations of greenwashing.
Environmental groups like Greenpeace have sued TotalEnergies for these practices, accusing the company of “greenwashing” by exaggerating the environmental benefits of natural gas to appear more climate-conscious than its actions justify. The court case opened in June 2025 aims to assess the credibility of TotalEnergies' climate commitments.
It is important to understand the difference between CO2 and CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent), a measure that enables the comparison of different greenhouse gases based on their global warming potential. Selective accounting of emissions can lead to an inconsistent portrayal of a company's environmental impact.
Methane, the principal by-product of burning natural gas and agricultural production, especially cattle, cannot be offset through natural capital as trees do not absorb methane like they do CO2.
This news underscores the need for transparency and accuracy in climate reporting, ensuring that consumers are well-informed about the environmental impact of the energy they consume.
- The controversy surrounding TotalEnergies' portrayal of natural gas as a "low carbon" solution highlights the need for transparency in environmental-science, as misleading claims about fossil fuels can undermine genuine green transition efforts and manipulate public perception.
- The court case against TotalEnergies in Paris is an example of an effort to hold industry accountable for their climate-change impact, especially with regard to greenwashing practices that exaggerate the environmental benefits of fossil fuels and downplay their contribution to global warming.
- Industry leaders, such as TotalEnergies, have a role in finance and energy by investing in renewable sources alongside fossil fuels, and their choice to prioritize gas production over absolute emissions reduction may have long-term implications for the business and the environment.
- Energy companies focused on solutions for the future must recognize the difference between CO2 and CO2e when evaluating their environmental impact, and ensure their climate-progress reports accurately reflect the full impact of greenhouse gases like methane, which cannot be offset through natural capital like carbon dioxide.
