A family whose home was damaged seeks refuge under a tree covered with metal sheets along a highway in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte province, on December 24, 2021, following the devastation caused by super Typhoon Rai. (Photo by Ferdinandh CABRERA / AFP)
Survivors of the 2021 deadly typhoon in the Philippines have taken legal action against British oil giant Shell, demanding financial reparation for climate-related destruction, according to three supporting NGOs on Thursday.
Typhoon Rai hit the southern and central Philippines in December 2021, causing power outages, uprooting trees, and triggering deadly floods that claimed over 400 lives and left countless homeless.
The lawsuit, representing 103 survivors, claims Shell’s carbon emissions have contributed to climate change, adversely affecting Filipino communities.
Trixy Elle, a plaintiff from a fishing village whose home and boats were destroyed by the typhoon, told AFP the lawsuit aims to achieve justice.
“Island residents like us contribute minimally to pollution. Yet, the poor like us suffer the most,” said the 34-year-old, who is still repaying high-interest loans taken to rebuild.
“I am speaking not only for my community but for all Filipinos impacted by climate crises,” Elle added, noting that her 13-year-old son still suffers from storm-induced trauma.
The NGOs backing the lawsuit stated it marks “a critical step toward holding Shell accountable for the deaths, injuries, and destruction caused by the climate-driven storm.”
Although typhoons are common in Southeast Asia, scientists have long warned that climate change intensifies storms as a warmer atmosphere retains more moisture and warmer seas can strengthen systems.
In Manila, Greenpeace climate campaigner Virginia Benosa-Llorin described the lawsuit as a “test case to hold corporations accountable.”
The suit represents “the first time claimants in the Global South are pursuing action for significant personal injury and property damage… linked to the alleged actions of entities in the Global North,” UK-based lawyer Joe Snape noted via videolink.
– Lost ‘everything’ –
Plaintiff Rickcel Inting, a fisherman, recounted to AFP how his family lost “everything instantly” during Typhoon Rai’s onslaught in Bohol province, surviving by tying themselves to a sturdy column on their roof.
“Shell is responsible for what we suffered due to its pollution and environmental harm… they owe compensation to the poor like us,” said the 46-year-old, who hasn’t been able to replace his lost fishing boats.
This lawsuit is part of a broader international push to hold large companies accountable for climate-related damage.
A German court in May decided firms could, in principle, be held liable for damages caused by their emissions, raising hopes for similar rulings in other countries.
Shell dismissed the lawsuit as “a baseless claim,” with a spokesperson stating, “it won’t help address climate change or lower emissions.”
“The notion that Shell had unique insights into climate change is false,” the company added.
– Oil profits –
The claimants seek financial compensation for “lost lives, injuries, and destroyed homes,” according to NGOs supporting the lawsuit.
Shell, like many rival energy companies, has scaled back some climate goals to prioritize oil and gas for increased profits.
The United Nations in 2022 reported that the damage from Typhoon Rai was “severely underestimated” initially, with the number of “seriously affected” individuals tripling to nine million.
The Philippines, one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, experiences an average of 20 storms annually.
The UK lawsuit follows a landmark climate ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague in July, affirming states’ obligations under international law to tackle climate change threats.
While ICJ advisory opinions are not legally binding, they are influential in guiding national courts, legislation, and corporate practices worldwide.
