BP has drawn a legal threat from activist climate investors after the energy giant rejected a shareholder resolution slated for its April AGM. The proposal, submitted in January, asks BP to outline how it will protect shareholder value if oil and gas demand falls. BP’s refusal sparked accusations of an “unprecedented attack on shareholder rights.”

The filing was backed by 16 institutional investors and a retail coalition organized by Dutch green group FollowThis. Corporate‑governance scholars say no FTSE 100 company has ever dismissed a resolution that met the 5 % voting‑share or 100‑shareholder threshold. FollowThis warns that BP’s move could set a dangerous precedent across Europe.

BP’s board, after legal counsel, concluded the proposal failed to meet statutory requirements, citing concerns over clarity and potential disruption. The company reaffirmed its “clear strategy with multiyear targets” to drive long‑term value and pledged continued compliance with industry‑standard climate reporting, while also proposing to revoke two green resolutions passed in 2015 and 2019.

Legal experts note that rejecting a valid shareholder motion is rare; only “defamatory, frivolous or vexatious” proposals are typically barred. FollowThis has warned it may seek urgent injunctive relief or call an extraordinary general meeting if BP does not issue a supplementary notice. The dispute underscores mounting pressure on oil majors to align strategies with climate expectations.