Brazil prosecutors sue Shell for $108m over deadly 2024 floods

Brazilian prosecutors have filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Shell's Brazilian subsidiary, seeking US$108 million in damages for the devastating floods that struck southern Brazil in April and May 2024. Torrential rains resulted in nearly 200 deaths, displaced 500,000 people, and caused extensive damage. The lawsuit alleges that Shell's liability should be proportional to its contribution to global warming, estimated at 2% of historical greenhouse gas emissions.

The civil suit aims to hold the company accountable for the environmental and climate-related damages caused by its activities. This marks a significant shift in the global legal landscape, with Brazilian prosecutors filing the first-ever national public prosecutor's lawsuit against an oil major for a climate disaster.