Oil and gas giant Royal Dutch Shell confirmed that it would appeal the ruling handed out to it by a Dutch court on May 26, that ordered it to slash emissions by 45% by 2030 (over 2019 levels). The ruling was hailed as a landmark decision as it requires Shell to significantly step up its emissions reduction efforts and realise actual cuts, instead of expanding its operations but gradually reducing their emissions intensity. Shell's CEO said that he agreed that an accelerated transition to net zero is needed, but "a court judgment, against a single company, is not effective. What is needed are clear, ambitious policies that will drive fundamental change across the whole energy system."