<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/not-as-green-as-it-seems-parent-group-challenges-energy-giant-over-carbon-claims/>
"A parent group with more than 20,000 members will challenge one of Australia’s
largest energy companies in court over claims it misled customers about
emissions from its products.
Representatives from EnergyAustralia will appear in the NSW Federal Court on
Thursday to defend the lawsuit filed by Parents for Climate following a
last-minute hearing delay.
The group claims the company misled more than 400,000 customers using its Go
Neutral products, which EnergyAustralia allegedly marketed as “carbon neutral”
due to the purchase of offsets, and claimed consumers would have a “positive
impact on the environment” by purchasing them.
But Parents for Climate will argue EnergyAustralia’s claims were misleading and
deceptive, chief executive Nic Seton said, in a lawsuit that will become the
first greenwashing case launched against an energy firm in Australia.
“It’s one of the most ambitious things that our organisation has ever done,” he
told
AAP.
“It’s an Australian first in that no other product has been tested on these
grounds of making carbon-neutral claims based on offsets.”
The charity, represented by Equity Generation Lawyers, will seek a declaration
that EnergyAustralia misled customers about greenhouse gas emissions, a
corrective statement to customers, and restrictions on its future marketing.
Australia’s rules about environmental claims, including guidance issued by the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, were not strong enough to
prevent greenwashing, Mr Seton said, and the group hoped the lawsuit would
encourage reforms."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
