World · Latin America · 1 day ago
Brazil prosecutors seek $108 million from Shell over 2024 floods
Brazilian prosecutors have sued Shell’s subsidiary in the country, seeking $108 million in compensation for the 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul state.
Torrential rain in April and May caused historic flooding that killed nearly 200 people and displaced about 500,000.
The prosecutors say Shell should be held responsible for climate-related damage because of greenhouse gas emissions linked to its fossil fuel business.
They estimate Shell’s share of historical global emissions at 2 percent and say its liability should reflect that share.
The requested compensation covers material and moral damages.
The lawsuit was filed with Brazilian non-governmental organisation Instituto Preservar, and a climate law expert described it as the first time a national prosecutor has sued an oil company over a climate disaster.
The case adds to legal efforts worldwide to make major polluters pay for climate-related losses.
The sources do not say when the case will be heard or how Shell will respond.
Brazilian prosecutors filed a lawsuit on Oct. 9 against Shell’s Brazilian subsidiary, seeking US$108 million in compensation for damage caused by the 2024 floods.
The floods followed torrential rains in southern Brazil in April and May 2024 and left nearly 200 people dead and about 500,000 displaced.
The lawsuit argues that Shell’s responsibility should reflect its contribution to global warming, which prosecutors estimate at 2% of historical global greenhouse gas emissions.
The claim seeks compensation for material and moral damages linked to the extreme weather event in Rio Grande do Sul state.
The case was brought in conjunction with Brazilian non-governmental organisation Instituto Preservar and is described by a climate litigation expert as the first time a national public prosecutor has sued an oil major over a climate disaster.
- Who
- Brazilian prosecutors and Instituto Preservar are suing Shell’s Brazilian subsidiary.
- What
- A lawsuit seeking US$108 million in compensation for material and moral damages linked to the 2024 floods.
- When
- Filed on Oct. 9, 2026; the floods occurred in April and May 2024.
- Where
- Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil.
- Why
- Prosecutors say Shell should be held responsible for climate-related damage in proportion to its contribution to global warming.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This civil suit is aimed at holding the defendant company accountable, in terms of its environmental and climate-related responsibilities, for collective material and moral damages stemming from the extreme weather event that hit Rio Grande do Sul state
This is the first time a national public prosecutor is suing an oil major for a climate disaster
The costs of climate damage must not be borne solely by society and those who lost everything in the tragedy
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Compensation sought
- US$108 million
- Estimated share of historical global greenhouse gas emissions
- 2%
- Flood period
- April and May 2024
- Deaths
- Nearly 200
- People displaced
- About 500,000
- Location
- Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil
Sources
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