Typhoon Rai Survivors File UK Court Claim Against Shell Over Climate Change
A group of 67 survivors of Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, have filed a claim in a UK court against Shell, alleging the company contributed to climate change that increased the likelihood and severity of the typhoon. Typhoon Rai struck the Philippines just before Christmas in 2021, bringing winds of up to 170 mph and resulting in approximately 400 deaths and the displacement of millions of homes.
The claim states that Shell is responsible for about 2% of historical global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Carbon Majors database, and thus contributed to the climate change linked to the typhoon. While the case has been filed in the UK Royal Courts of Justice, Philippine law will be applied in relation to damages since the harm occurred in the Philippines.
Shell has denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and rejecting claims that it had unique knowledge of climate change. Environmental groups have expressed support for the case, though they note that while attribution science has advanced, linking specific damages to a particular producer remains challenging.
This case is being viewed as a test for UK courts. Similar legal actions abroad have experienced mixed outcomes, such as a 2021 ruling in the Netherlands ordering Shell to cut emissions, which was later overturned on appeal. The claim also references a purported history of climate misinformation by Shell and alleges that the company has known since 1965 that fossil fuels are the primary cause of climate change.
Prior to filing, a letter was sent to Shell outlining the case, and more detailed particulars are expected by mid-next year.
