Survivors of Super Typhoon Odette, which struck the Philippines in December 2021, have filed a lawsuit in the UK against British oil giant Shell, seeking compensation for climate-related devastation, three NGOs supporting the claimants announced Thursday.
The typhoon hit southern and central regions, toppling power lines and trees and causing floods that killed over 400 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. The lawsuit, filed by British law firm Hausfeld on behalf of 103 survivors, contends that Shell’s carbon emissions contributed to climate change, worsening the impact of storms like Odette.
Scientists have long warned that typhoons are intensifying as global temperatures rise due to human-driven climate change.
In a joint statement, the NGOs, including Greenpeace, said the lawsuit represents “a decisive step to hold oil giant Shell accountable for the deaths, injuries and destruction left by the climate-fueled storm.”
The case is part of a broader international movement to hold major companies responsible for climate damage, particularly in the Global South. A German court earlier this year ruled that companies could, in principle, be held liable for harm caused by their emissions, raising hopes for similar actions elsewhere.
Shell responded, saying, “This is a baseless claim, and it will not help tackle climate change or reduce emissions. The suggestion that Shell had unique knowledge about climate change is simply not true.” The claim has been officially listed on the High Court of London’s website.