Milieudefensie has secured an important first victory in the Climate Case against ING. Wednesday, the Amsterdam District Court ruled that all of Milieudefensie’s claims are admissible and that the case can proceed.

“While this ruling is in line with our expectations, we are nevertheless pleased. ING is still investing about 30 billion euros in polluting fossil fuel companies. This shows that the bank is continuing to finance the climate crisis,” says Winnie Oussoren of Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands).

Milieudefensie demands that ING stops financing oil and gas companies that are developing new projects, and that ING reduces its emissions in line with the reduction pathways set out by the International Energy Agency and the IPCC.

Since Milieudefensie filed the summons in 2025, ING has made no progress in its climate policy. On the contrary: the bank’s financed emissions increased by 15% last year, and ING has provided financing to fossil fuel companies such as ENI, Cheniere and Vår Energi over the past year. 

Winnie Oussoren: “Extreme drought caused major wildfires and ravaged Europe. Large companies continue to contribute to dangerous climate change and are thus a major part of the problem. The government does not protect us sufficiently against major polluters. That is why it is important for the court to examine the responsibility of ING, bank of the climate crisis.”

The next big step in Milieudefensie v ING are the hearings, expected to be in spring 2027.