Shell faces lawsuit from Filipino survivors over typhoon Odette

A group of 67 Filipinos has filed a lawsuit in the United Kingdom accusing Shell of contributing to the formation of Typhoon Odette in the Philippines. They argue that the company’s carbon emissions enabled the extreme weather conditions that led to the storm, which hit the country on December 16, 2021, killing more than 400 people and leaving millions homeless.

Greenpeace says this is the first civil lawsuit to directly connect oil and gas companies’ activities to deaths and injuries caused by climate change in developing nations.

The claimants, supported by the law firm Hausfeld, officially filed the case at Shell’s London headquarters. They are seeking damages for the loss of loved ones, psychological trauma, and lost earnings, as well as a court order imposing limitations on the company.

A central part of the lawsuit focuses on Shell’s alleged long-term dissemination of misinformation about climate change. The claimants contend that the company kept expanding its fossil fuel operations even though it was fully aware of the consequences. They also accuse Shell of withholding information and actively shaping the public debate on climate change to serve its own interests.

Shell disputes the claims. “The idea that Shell had unique knowledge of climate change is simply false,” a company spokesperson said. “We agree that action against climate change is necessary,” adding that the company is working on developing fuels with lower carbon emissions.