A criminal case has been filed against the CEO and directors of the French oil company TotalEnergies, alleging its fossil fuel exploitation has contributed to the deaths of victims of climate-fuelled extreme weather disasters.

Dr Simon Frémaux, at Alliance Santé Planétaire, one of the NGOs filing the case, said: “Climate change is the world’s greatest health emergency. TotalEnergies and the other oil and gas companies are perfectly aware of what they are doing. Once you’re aware of what you’re doing, you can’t say you’re not responsible.”