Shell hit with legal action over climate damages by Typhoon Odette survivors
London, 23 October 2025 – Shell is set to be taken to court over its role in causing Typhoon Odette in the Philippines, according to a Letter Before Action delivered to Shell HQ in London. Typhoon Odette, which struck the Philippines on 16 December 2021, killed over 400 people, displaced 3.2 million people, injured thousands and destroyed 1.4 million homes. With winds reaching 280 km/h or 175 m/h, Typhoon Odette was an off-the-scale event.
Hausfeld, acting on behalf of 67 individuals from several Philippines communities whose family members were killed and/or whose homes were destroyed by the typhoon, has sent a Letter Before Action (LBA) to Shell plc and The Shell Trading and Transport Company Limited (together, Shell).
The LBA notifies Shell of intended legal proceedings in England and Wales on behalf of its clients who suffered severe losses including serious property damage, personal injury, bereavement, psychological trauma, loss of earnings and a loss of cultural rights. The claimants intend to seek damages for these losses and further relief in relation to the violation of their constitutional right to a balanced ecology. The claim alleges that Shell’s actions materially contributed to anthropogenic climate change (ACC) which significantly intensified the typhoon’s impact and likelihood, thereby increasing the damage suffered by the clients.
The impact of ACC on Typhoon Odette and Shell’s role
In an independent report leading international scientists from the Centre for Environmental Policy, the Grantham Institute and the University of Sheffield concluded that ACC made Typhoon Odette significantly more likely and more severe. Further, they stated that ACC more than doubled the risk of a combined rainfall and windspeed event of the severity of Typhoon Odette and that more than half of the damage caused by Typhoon Odette was attributable to ACC.
Also central to the claim is that Shell’s history of climate misinformation and obfuscation of climate science constitutes a breach of its obligation under Philippines law to act in accordance with “morals, good customs [and] public policy” as per Article 21 of the Philippines Civil Code. This cause of action was identified by the Philippines Human Rights Commission in their detailed 2022 report as potentially giving rise to civil liability against carbon majors, such as Shell, in relation to climate harms suffered in the Philippines.
Our clients argue that, not only did Shell continue to dramatically expand its fossil fuel production despite having clear knowledge of the impacts of climate change on climate vulnerable communities such as those where our clients live, it also did not disclose to the public what it knew and took active steps to undermine the emerging scientific consensus on the causes and likely effects of ACC. It is also alleged that Shell acted to prevent or delay the introduction of national and international measures to encourage or require a reduction in the production or consumption of fossil fuels.
As a result of Shell’s conduct, our clients have suffered and continue to suffer significant loss and damage.
The Letter Before Action
The claim is being brought in the UK where Shell is domiciled as it relates to the operations of the entire Shell Group but will apply the law of the Philippines, according to the provisions of the Rome II Regulation, as this is where the damage complained of, occurred.
The LBA alleges that Shell was aware for decades that the burning of fossil fuels is a primary driver of ACC and that, despite this knowledge, it expanded its production and sale of fossil fuels, tripling its greenhouse gas emissions between 1965 and 2021. The LBA sets out in detail how Shell allegedly knowingly increased emissions and failed to take effective action to reduce harm. These claims can be summarised as follows:
- Negligence / quasi-delict, in failing to act responsibly despite knowing the risks and in causing harm through wrongful acts or omissions
- Unjust enrichment, in profiting at others’ expense while causing harm
- Violation of our clients’ constitutional right to a balanced ecology and / or
- Actions of climate misinformation / denial.
Our clients allege that in prioritising financial gain over environmental responsibility, Shell also engaged in public relations campaigns and political lobbying designed to undermine scientific consensus on climate change.
More specifically, the LBA argues that through its contribution of more than 2.5% of historical global industrial greenhouse gas emissions, Shell has materially contributed to ACC and, in turn, made Typhoon Odette more likely and more severe.
Greg Lascelles, Partner at Hausfeld, leading the legal team:
“The case seeks to hold Shell accountable to our Filipino clients. By proving in court that Shell was at fault for this climate-change driven extreme weather event and the suffering it caused, the case highlights the far-reaching and direct impacts on vulnerable communities worldwide of oil and gas company activities”.
Media enquiries
Please contact Silvia Van den Bruel
svandenbruel@hausfeld.com - +44 20 7936 0921
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Notes for editors
- With offices in Europe and the US, Hausfeld successfully resolves disputes for its clients, driven by its bold approach and pioneering experience. The firm trailblazed claimant litigation, most notably in September 2019 when it filed a ground-breaking legal complaint about climate change with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child on behalf of 16 young people from around the world. For more information about our climate impact activity.
- The legal team is led by Partner Greg Lascelles and consists of Ingrid Gubbay, Hana Tawfik, Chantal Ottow, Cara Nicholson and Daniela del Rio.
- Greenpeace Philippines, the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC), the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) and Uplift have partnered to develop an international campaign (the Odette Case Campaign) to support the claimants in their fight for justice.
