Brazilian prosecutors file US$108 million suit against Shell over 2024 floods
Brazil's public prosecutors have sued Shell for US$108 million, alleging the company's emissions contributed to the deadly 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul.
Public prosecutors in Brazil have brought a civil action against Shell, demanding US$108 million in compensation for the catastrophic floods that struck Rio Grande do Sul in April and May 2024. The floods resulted in almost 200 deaths, displaced about 500,000 people, and caused extensive damage. The filing asserts that Shell's historical contribution of roughly two percent to global greenhouse-gas emissions makes it liable for both material losses and moral suffering caused by the extreme weather.
The case, prepared together with the Brazilian NGO Instituto Preservar, represents the first instance of a national prosecutor suing an oil company over a climate disaster. Experts note the suit could set a precedent for future climate-related litigation. Shell is already defending similar claims abroad, including a lawsuit in the United Kingdom linked to a Philippine typhoon.
Why it matters
The case could set a legal precedent for holding fossil-fuel companies accountable for climate-driven disasters.
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