Background Facts
In the year 2020 board of the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique allowed Total to build a research and innovation center in Saclay, south of Paris on the university's campus.
A later complaint has been filed by Greenpeace and two other civil society groups before the Paris prosecutor against Patrick Pouyanné who is the CEO of energy giant Total.
What The Complaint Is About
The complaint alleges that Patrick Pouyanné, CEO of energy giant Total misuse his role, powers, and position on the board of the university to push and influence the company's agenda.
Who Filed The Complaint
The complaint was filed by the French arm of Greenpeace, anti-corruption group ANTICOR and an association named La Sphinx which represents students and university alumni.
Say On This Complaint
The Paris prosecutor’s office hasn’t said that it will be taking up the complaint.
However, Total issued a statement that Pouyanné never takes part in decisions of the university concerning board and that he recused himself when the topic came up.
Further Total, along with other major energy producers has been under penetrating inspection from green groups. These groups say that the energy industry is enriching climate change by promoting the more use of carbon dioxide emitting fossil fuels.
The oil campaigner at Greenpeace France, Edina Ifticène asked the prosecutor to investigate whether power is misused by Pouyanné to enforce Total’s fossil fuels agenda on a public education institution.
What is your take on the complaint of misuse of power leading to influence educational institute agenda? Does this type of misuse is always against the welfare of the students? Tell us in the comments below.
Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!"
