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Philippine typhoon survivors take legal action against Shell
Survivors of Typhoon Rai, which devastated parts of the Philippines in 2021, have filed a lawsuit in the UK against oil giant Shell, alleging the company's carbon emissions worsened the storm's impact. The case marks the first legal action of its kind against a major UK-based fossil fuel producer.
The devastation of Typhoon Rai
Typhoon Rai, locally known as Odette, struck the Philippines in December 2021, claiming around 400 lives and damaging millions of homes. With wind speeds reaching 170mph (270km/h), the storm destroyed approximately 2,000 buildings and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Among those affected was Trixy Elle, a fish vendor from Batasan island. She recounted the harrowing experience of fleeing her home amid towering waves and relentless winds. "We had to swim through big waves, heavy rain, and strong winds," she told BBC News. "My father said we'd hold hands-if we survive, we survive together; if we die, we die together."
Legal claim targets Shell's climate impact
A group of 103 survivors has filed a lawsuit in the UK, arguing that Shell's historical greenhouse gas emissions contributed to the typhoon's severity. The claim, submitted to the Royal Courts of Justice, asserts that Shell is responsible for 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, as documented by the Carbon Majors database.
The survivors' legal team contends that Shell's emissions "materially contributed" to climate change, increasing the likelihood and intensity of Typhoon Rai. They also accuse the company of a "history of climate misinformation," alleging Shell has known since 1965 that fossil fuels drive climate change but continued prioritizing profits over environmental and human costs.
"It's very clear they choose profit over people. They choose money over the planet."
Trixy Elle, typhoon survivor
Shell denies allegations, calls claim "baseless"
Shell has dismissed the lawsuit as unfounded. A company spokesperson told BBC News: "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 spokesperson added that climate change has been a subject of public discussion and scientific research for decades, rejecting the notion that Shell possessed exclusive information.
Legal challenges and precedents
Proving that specific fossil fuel producers are liable for damages caused by extreme weather events remains a legal hurdle. However, advancements in climate science have made it easier to attribute individual storms to climate change, according to environmental campaigners supporting the case.
Harj Narulla, a barrister specializing in climate litigation, noted that while the legal bar for such cases is traditionally high, recent developments in science and law have lowered it. "This is certainly a test case," he said, "but it's not the first of its kind. UK courts will now assess the attribution science from a factual perspective."
Previous attempts to hold oil companies accountable in the US have largely failed, while a 2021 Dutch court ruling ordering Shell to cut emissions by 45% by 2030 was overturned on appeal last year. The Dutch court, however, reaffirmed Shell's responsibility to mitigate climate risks through its policies.
Next steps in the legal process
The lawsuit has been filed at the Royal Courts of Justice, with more detailed particulars expected by mid-2026. The case will apply Philippine law, as the damages occurred there, but was brought in the UK due to Shell's domicile.
