Climate lawsuit against Wintershall Dea withdrawn

The executive directors of Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Environmental Action Germany (DUH)) as plaintiffs have informed the Kassel District Court that they do not wish to continue the legal proceedings against Wintershall Dea. Since a large part of Wintershall Dea’s business has been sold, DUH as the plaintiff considers the lawsuit to be settled. Wintershall Dea has not objected. The legal dispute has thus been concluded.

As of 3 September 2024, Wintershall Dea's E&P business, excluding Russia-related activities, was transferred to Harbour Energy plc. The transfer included production and development assets as well as exploration rights in Norway, Argentina, Germany, Mexico, Algeria, Libya (excluding Wintershall AG), Egypt and Denmark (excluding Ravn) as well as Wintershall Dea’s carbon storage (CCS) licenses.

In October 2021, the executive directors of DUH filed a “climate lawsuit” against Wintershall Dea with the Kassel District Court to legally bind the company’s CO₂ emissions to the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement and the German Climate Protection Act. Wintershall Dea defended itself against the lawsuit, inter alia on the grounds that the company's business activities were within the framework of the applicable law and that it was the legislator's task to adapt this framework.

_{About Wintershall Dea}

_{Wintershall Dea is an energy company with a long history, the last chapter of which is now being written. As of 3 September 2024, the majority of the company’s former E&P assets and carbon storage licences have been sold and transferred to Harbour Energy. Wintershall Dea’s remaining assets include the joint venture Wintershall AG in Libya, the joint venture Wintershall Noordzee B.V. in the Southern North Sea, interests in Nord Stream and the claims for the expropriation of the joint ventures in Russia. Wintershall Dea is now managing and divesting these remaining assets, restructuring the company, and ultimately, implementing a responsible closure. Wintershall Dea is owned by BASF and LetterOne.}