Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Oil, gas and coal operations · Netherlands · date not stated

Groningen gas field

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 1 not measured · 1 unclear See the gaps

A study published by IISD in January 2026 reported revenue of EUR 364 billion for the Dutch state and EUR 65 billion for the companies from the Groningen gas field. In 2026 the field was the subject of arbitration cases against the Netherlands and of a court order for a new decision on compensation.

EUR 364bn vs EUR 65bnReported revenue from the field: Dutch state vs companies
As reported by IISD, January 2026. The period covered is not stated in the sources reviewed.

Status As of June 2026: a court found a EUR 526 million bill issued to NAM unlawful and ordered a new decision; arbitration cases by Shell and ExxonMobil against the Netherlands were reported in January 2026; no ruling in the arbitration found.

What?
The Groningen gas field earned reported revenue of EUR 364 billion for the Dutch state and EUR 65 billion for the companies. In 2026 it was the subject of arbitration cases against the Netherlands and of a court order for a new decision on a EUR 526 million bill issued to NAM. IISD
Where?
Groningen, the Netherlands.
When?
Revenue period not stated. Court and arbitration events reported in 2026. IISD
Who?
Gained
  • Dutch state — Reported revenue of EUR 364 billion from the field IISD
  • Companies — Reported revenue of EUR 65 billion from the field IISD
Lost
None on record
Harmed
None on record
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
Not stated. The state's 64% share of costs in 2017 and a 2025 dividend are given without a cited source.
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

IISD, in an article on arbitration cases against the Netherlands published in January 2026, reported revenue from the Groningen gas field of EUR 364 billion for the Dutch state and EUR 65 billion for the companies.

The research record gives further figures without a cited source. In 2017 the Dutch state bore 64% of the costs. The operating company owed EUR 550 million in delayed payments and, in 2025, distributed a EUR 3 billion dividend to its partners.

In 2026 the Groningen matter reached the courts and arbitration. IISD's article of 19 January 2026 concerned the arbitration cases that Shell and ExxonMobil brought against the Netherlands. On 14 June 2026 NL Times reported that a court had found unlawful a bill of EUR 526 million issued to NAM and had ordered a new decision in a compensation case connected to the Groningen earthquakes.

  1. 2017The Dutch state bears 64% of the costs (figure without a cited source).
  2. 2025The operating company distributes a EUR 3 billion dividend to its partners (figure without a cited source).
  3. 2026IISD article on Shell and ExxonMobil arbitration cases against the Netherlands (19 January). A court finds a EUR 526 million bill issued to NAM unlawful and orders a new decision (reported 14 June).

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

    Recorded

    • Revenue from the field: EUR 364 billion to the Dutch state and EUR 65 billion to the companies (IISD, January 2026).
      IISD
    • A court found a bill of EUR 526 million issued to NAM unlawful and ordered a new decision (NL Times, 14 June 2026).
      NL Times
    • In 2017 the state bore 64% of the costs.
    • The operating company owed EUR 550 million in delayed payments and distributed a EUR 3 billion dividend to its partners in 2025.

    Who gained

    Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

    Reached nature or the ground

    Not published
    No figure published.

    Gained elsewhere

    Not totalled
    Dutch state: revenue from the field€364bn
    EUR 364 billion as reported by IISD; period not stated.
    Companies: revenue from the field€65bn
    EUR 65 billion as reported by IISD; period not stated.
    Currency: EUR · Window: . All figures cover the same period. * Estimate built from cited figures.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    1. Outcome not on record
      Shell and ExxonMobil arbitration cases against the Netherlands over Groningen
      Arbitration (tribunal not named) · Arbitration · Shell and ExxonMobil → The Netherlands

      IISD reported on the arbitration cases against the Netherlands in January 2026. The research record holds no outcome. IISD

    2. By 14 June 2026Claimant won€526m Bill issued to NAM found unlawful, EUR million
      Court order for a new decision on compensation in a Groningen earthquake case
      Dutch court (not named) · Administrative · NAM (the party billed) → Issuer of the bill (not named)

      The court found the EUR 526 million bill issued to NAM unlawful and ordered a new decision. NL Times

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What nature saw

    Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

    Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

    Reported revenue, Dutch state
    EUR 364bn
    IISD, January 2026
    Reported revenue, companies
    EUR 65bn
    IISD, January 2026
    Bill issued to NAM found unlawful
    EUR 526m
    Court ordered a new decision, reported 14 June 2026

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
    Court ruling exists

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Court

    • Unclear Shell and ExxonMobil arbitration cases against the Netherlands over Groningen: outcome not on record.

    Did the harm stop?

    The research record does not state whether production has ended.

    Who paid?

    In 2017 the Dutch state bore 64% of the costs (figure without a cited source).

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society✓ Researchers

    Press and investigations

    1. Court orders new decision
      NL Times · 2026-06-14

    Researchers

    1. Aftershock in Groningen
      IISD · 2026-01-19

    Connected cases

    Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
    Terms used on this page

    Law and courts

    Arbitration
    A private dispute process in which an appointed arbitrator, instead of a court, decides the case.
    Plea
    In a criminal case, the defendant's formal answer to a charge. A plea agreement settles a case with a guilty plea on agreed terms.
    Punitive damages
    Money a court orders a defendant to pay to punish especially reckless conduct, on top of compensation for losses. Mainly used in US courts.

    Insurance

    Underwriter
    An insurer, or a person at an insurer, who assesses a risk and decides whether and on what terms to insure it.
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