Brazil sues Shell for US$108mil over deadly 2024 floods

BRASILIA: Brazilian prosecutors have filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Shell, demanding US$108 million in compensation for deadly 2024 floods in southern Brazil. Torrential rains in April and May of that year caused historic flooding, resulting in nearly 200 deaths, 500,000 displaced individuals, and extensive damages. The lawsuit argues that Shell's liability should correspond to its contribution to global warming, estimated at two percent of historical greenhouse gas emissions.

This civil action seeks to hold the company accountable for its environmental and climate-related responsibilities, aiming to address both material and moral damages caused by the extreme weather event in Rio Grande do Sul state. The US$108 million compensation encompasses both tangible and intangible losses. This marks a new phase in the global legal battle against oil companies, as it is the first time a national public prosecutor has initiated a case against an oil major for a climate disaster.

Maria Antonia Tigre, director of global climate litigation at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, highlighted the significance of this legal move in pursuing accountability from oil companies. Shell is already facing lawsuits in the United Kingdom following a typhoon in the Philippines.