Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has been ordered by a Dutch court to cut its emissions by 45% compared to 2019 levels by 2030. That’s notable because it’s the first time a company has been legally obliged to line its business operations up with the Paris climate agreement, legal eagles say. The company – which has massive oil and gas projects worldwide, including in Australia – is said to be responsible for about 1% of global emissions each year and had pledged to reduce emissions by 20% within a decade and hit net zero emissions before 2050. The court decision means it would have to do more, sooner. “Even if states do nothing or only a little, companies have the responsibility to respect human rights,” Judge Larisa Alwin said. Shell said it expects to appeal the ruling.