One hundred and three survivors of Typhoon Rai in the Philippines have filed a lawsuit in the UK against Shell, alleging the oil major's emissions worsened the storm's impacts. Plaintiffs — many of them fishermen and island residents who lost homes and boats — seek compensation for deaths, injuries and destroyed property. Shell calls the action baseless; the case follows recent legal developments in Germany and an ICJ advisory opinion that have increased momentum for climate accountability.
103 Filipino Typhoon Survivors Sue Shell, Seeking Compensation for Climate-Fuelled Damage
Trixy Elle (centre, L), and other survivors of super Typhoon Rai on Thursday called on British oil giant Shell to provide financial compensation for climate-related devastation (Ted ALJIBE)(Ted ALJIBE/AFP/AFP)
Survivors of Typhoon Rai (known locally as Odette), which devastated parts of the Philippines in December 2021, have filed a lawsuit in the UK against British oil giant Shell. The action, brought on behalf of 103 people and supported by three NGOs, argues that Shell’s carbon emissions contributed to a warming climate that intensified the storm’s impacts and seeks compensation for lives lost, injuries and destroyed homes.
What Plaintiffs Say
Plaintiffs include small-scale fishermen and island residents who lost homes, boats and livelihoods.
“Island residents like us contribute only a small percentage of pollution. But who gets the short stick? The poor like us,”said Trixy Elle, a 34-year-old plaintiff whose house and four boats were swept away. She added that her 13-year-old son still suffers trauma from the storm and that she remains burdened by high-interest loans used to rebuild.
A Personal Account
Fisherman Rickcel Inting described how his family “lost everything in an instant” when the typhoon struck Bohol province. He said they survived only by lashing themselves to a rooftop column and that he cannot afford to replace lost boats. Plaintiffs argue that major fossil fuel companies, including Shell, should bear responsibility for harms linked to their cumulative emissions.
Shell’s Response
Shell rejected the claim as “a baseless claim,” saying the lawsuit will not reduce emissions or tackle climate change. A company spokesperson also denied that Shell had unique knowledge about climate science. The company’s statement frames the suit as legally unfounded.
Legal And International Context
The case is part of a growing global trend of climate litigation targeting major emitters. In May, a German court affirmed that companies could, in principle, be held responsible for damage caused by their emissions, and in July the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion saying states have obligations under international law to address climate threats. While ICJ advisory opinions are not binding, they are influential in shaping legal and policy debate worldwide.
Why This Case Matters
The lawsuit is notable because it is being pursued by claimants from the Global South seeking redress in a Global North jurisdiction, and because it links concrete personal injury and property loss to corporate contributions to climate change. NGOs supporting the case call it “a decisive step to hold oil giant Shell accountable for the deaths, injuries and destruction left by the climate-fuelled storm.”
Wider Impact
Typhoon Rai killed more than 400 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. The United Nations later said earlier damage assessments “badly underestimated” the storm’s toll, revising the number of people seriously affected to about nine million. The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to extreme weather and is hit by roughly 20 storms each year on average.
Implications: If successful, the suit could strengthen legal avenues for climate-impacted communities worldwide to seek compensation from major emitters and could influence corporate disclosures, climate commitments and future litigation strategies.
