Survivors of Typhoon Rai file a lawsuit against Shell in the UK, seeking compensation for deaths and destruction linked to climate change
LONDON: Survivors of a deadly 2021 typhoon in the Philippines have filed a lawsuit against British oil giant Shell seeking financial compensation for climate-related devastation.
The lawsuit, supported by three NGOs, was filed on behalf of 103 survivors of Typhoon Rai, which killed over 400 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless.
It argues Shell’s carbon emissions contributed to the climate change that impacted Philippine communities.
Plaintiff Trixy Elle, whose home and boats were swept away, said the lawsuit was about securing justice for the poor who suffer most from pollution.
“I am not speaking only for my community but for all Filipinos who experience the effects of climate crises,” said the 34-year-old.
NGOs backing the suit called it a decisive step to hold Shell accountable for the deaths and destruction left by the climate-fuelled storm.
Scientists warn climate change is making storms more intense due to a warmer atmosphere and seas.
Greenpeace campaigner Virginia Benosa-Llorin called the lawsuit a test case to hold corporations accountable.
UK-based lawyer Joe Snape said it marks the first time claimants from the Global South are bringing such action for personal injury and property damage.
Fisherman and plaintiff Rickcel Inting said his family lost everything when the typhoon hit Bohol province.
“Shell caused what we have suffered because of its actions, causing pollution and harming the environment,” said the 46-year-old.
The lawsuit is part of a wider international movement to assign climate responsibility to major companies.
A German court ruled in May that firms could in principle be held responsible for harm caused by their emissions.
Shell dismissed the claim as baseless, stating it would not help tackle climate change or reduce emissions.
The company added that the suggestion it had unique knowledge about climate change is simply not true.
Claimants are seeking financial compensation for lives lost, injuries sustained and homes destroyed.
Shell has scaled back various climate objectives to focus more on oil and gas to raise profits.
The UN said in 2022 that destruction from Typhoon Rai was badly underestimated, with nine million people seriously affected.
The Philippines, hit by an average of 20 storms yearly, is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change.
The UK lawsuit follows a historic climate ruling by the International Court of Justice in July.
The ICJ declared states have an obligation under international law to address the threat of climate change. – AFP
