British oil and gas giant Shell does not have to drastically reduce its carbon dioxide emissions as previously ruled, an appeals court in The Hague announced on Tuesday, delivering a blow to environmental activists.

Oil giant Shell emerged victorious Tuesday from a Dutch court where it was appealing a ruling ordering it to slash its global carbon emissions by 45% by the end of the decade in line with the Paris climate agreement.

A lower court had ordered the company to cut emissions by 45 percent by 2030, but the oil giant argued that a single firm should not be hit with arbitrary pollution-reduction requirements.

A Dutch appeals court on Tuesday overturned a landmark ruling that ordered energy company Shell to cut its carbon emissions by net 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.

Oil giant Shell has won a landmark case in the Dutch courts, overturning an earlier ruling requiring it to cut carbon emissions by 45%.

The original 2021 ruling ordered Shell to cut its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. The appeals court said there is "insufficient consensus" on a specific reduction percentage.

Shell wins its appeal against a landmark Dutch climate ruling ordering it to sharply reduce emissions:::: The Hague, Netherlands:: Carla Joustra, President of Appeals Court:: "The appeals court's final judgment is that Milieudefensie's claims cannot be granted.