Survivors of a devastating 2021 typhoon in the Philippines have filed a lawsuit in the United Kingdom against oil giant Shell, accusing the company of contributing to climate‑driven destruction that killed hundreds and displaced millions. Three NGOs supporting the claimants announced the legal action on Thursday.
The case, filed by British law firm Hausfeld on behalf of 103 survivors, argues that Shell’s historic carbon emissions helped fuel the climate crisis, intensifying Typhoon Rai, which tore through southern and central Philippines in December 2021. The storm toppled power lines, uprooted trees and triggered deadly floods, killing more than 400 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.
Scientists have long warned that warming oceans and rising global temperatures — driven by human activity — are causing typhoons to strengthen more rapidly.
In a joint statement, the NGOs, including Greenpeace, described the lawsuit as “a decisive step to hold oil giant Shell accountable for the deaths, injuries and destruction left by the climate‑fuelled storm.” They said the case adds momentum to a growing global effort to assign responsibility to major fossil fuel companies for climate damage, particularly in vulnerable regions of the Global South.
The lawsuit comes amid a shifting international legal landscape. In May, a German court ruled that companies could, in principle, be held liable for harm linked to their emissions — a decision that campaigners hope will inspire similar rulings elsewhere.
Shell dismissed the UK claim. “This is a baseless claim, and it will not help tackle climate change or reduce emissions,” a spokesperson said, adding that the company did not possess “unique knowledge” about climate risks. The case has already been listed on the High Court’s website.
Survivors Seek Compensation for “Lives Lost”
The claimants are seeking financial compensation for “lives lost, injuries sustained and homes destroyed,” according to the NGOs, which also include the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center. They said the case is part of a broader push to challenge what they describe as the “impunity of fossil fuel companies.”
Shell and other major energy firms have recently scaled back climate commitments as they shift focus toward oil and gas to boost profits.
Among the plaintiffs is 34‑year‑old Trixy Elle, whose family home and four fishing boats were swept away by Rai’s storm surge. She said her family is still repaying high‑interest loans taken out to rebuild. “Island residents like us contribute only a small percentage of pollution. But who gets the short stick? The poor like us,” she told AFP, adding that her teenage son continues to suffer trauma from the disaster.
A 2022 UN assessment found that the scale of destruction from Typhoon Rai had been “badly underestimated,” tripling the number of people deemed “seriously affected” to nine million. The Philippines, one of the world’s most climate‑vulnerable nations, is struck by around 20 storms each year.
The lawsuit follows a landmark advisory opinion issued in July by the International Court of Justice, which declared that states have an obligation under international law to address climate change. While not legally binding, ICJ opinions carry significant weight and often influence national courts, legislation and corporate behaviour.
