French oil giant Total will be taken to court this week in Nanterre by a combination of NGOs and local authorities.

The goal is a substantial reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions.

'A business model incompatible with the Paris agreement'

It is the first such case against a private company in France.

“Total is a French company, a major carbon emitter in France. It is emitting more gas emissions than the whole of the rest of the French territory and it has a business model which is clearly incompatible and inconsistent with the goals of the Paris agreement," says Paul Mougeolle, a lawyer representing Notre Affaire à Tous NGO in the case.

“We want Total to make an energy transition and we want them to do renewables and non-carbon energy,” Mougeolle adds.

Under a French accountability statute called 'duty of vigilance', the methods that large companies utilise in order to ensure there is no damage to the environment must be clearly stipulated.

Watch Good Morning Europe's report in the player above.