‘Slapp addict’ Italian oil firm accused of trying to silence green activists | Environmental activism

WHen Antonio Tricarico was called to the local police station in October and told him that he was investigating defamation, and he was emphasized but was not shocked. Months ago, Tricarico, director of the Italian environment for NGOs, presented a joint legal challenge against the country’s largest oil company, ENI, who knew that it had a history of lawyers’ use to eliminate critics.

The company had previously restricted itself to civil defamation cases, including against Wimpon, but in the Tricarico case, criminal procedures on the statements made in a television interview began.

“There is definitely intimidation against myself, and it is not nice and affects daily work,” said Tricarico, who is now considering the energy and resources that will be needed. “But I think intimidation is broader.”

Environmental groups say that Eni has been participating in a campaign to strangle critics, as the company has submitted at least six lawsuits against journalists and NGOs since January 2019.

The company publicly circulated, which is subject to actual control of the Italian Ministry of Economy, is among the largest historical pollutants in the world in terms of the planet heating gas. It plans to increase its basic production by 3-4 % per year throughout the contract, even Road maps To prevent the planet from calling heating for rapid decreases in the use of fossil fuels.

The court documents show that ENI has started legal procedures against critics, including the Italian public broadcaster, Rai and Greenpeace and multiple newspapers. The company has sought more than 10 million euros (8.6 million pounds) as compensation through known cases, according to the joint analysis of the Guardian by ARIA, a non -profit research organization. The last Eni suit seeks to compensate.

Judges’ ruling against Eni in three cases and another resolved in a settlement agreement was resolved. Two other cases, including the criminal investigation in Trekrico and a civil case against Greenpeace and WilMon, are continuing.

Simona Abbate, Climate and Energy Activist in Greenpece ItalyHe said, “Eni Eskat is the opposition. It is an international strategy that fossil companies use to reduce the environmental movement,” he said.

Activists say the issues are examples of “strategic claims against public participation”, known as Slapps, which can bully journalists and entertainment, with the threat of false legal procedure that does not represent a chance of success. Eni opposes the description.

In April, a coalition of NGOs, including correspondents without borders and international transparency, was granted the title of “Slapp Addict of the Year” due to its defamation claims. The groups shed light on the ENI 2024 case against Greenpeace and Wilison after they sought to hold ENI accountable for climate damage.

The company is responsible for 0.46 % of global emissions since the industrial revolution, according to the numbers of the specialized carbon database that includes emissions issued by customers who burn fuel. The Eni issue against NGOs seeks to prevent them from describing its actions as “crimes” or using a similar language in the campaigns.

“Not only is the right but the duty to resort to the judicial authorities when they face wrong and defaming data harmful to its reputation.”

They said: “It is important to note that ENI did not start any SLAPP lawsuits against environmental groups, because it has not requested any financial compensation, but the judicial truth is only entitled.”

In the previous defamation claims that Eni lost, mostly with regard to coverage Conservation of a Nigerian oil field licenseThe company requested compensation of 5 million euros, 350,000 euros from the Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano and 5 million euros from Rai. Eni was eventually acquitted of criminal charges in the corruption trial, which led to NGOs, including the will.

Climate activists and oil companies are increasingly turning into the courts because the battles on pollution and public opinion are more fraught. While activists are freedom of expression on many oil and gas companies for criticizing it for using legal threats to fight critics, ENI filed more lawsuits against journalists and environmental groups from other European oil specialties he made.

Tricarico said there had been a “change in speed” since Eni’s attempts to demand compensation for media organizations have failed, and I have now taken a more accurate approach by not ordering money.

He said: “The company realized that this may not have been enough to stop the few decisive voices – and it was in fact a very bad result in the court.” “My feeling is that they move to a different approach that you may call” Slapp 2.0 “.