Brazil Prosecutors Sue Shell Over 2024 Floods
Brazilian federal prosecutors and Instituto Preservar filed a lawsuit in October 2026 demanding more than 541 million reais—equivalent to $100 million or $108 million depending on the reporting—from oil major Shell over its alleged contribution to the deadly southern Brazil floods of 2024, Carbon Pulse reported.
Demands and Alleged Liability in Rio Grande do Sul
The civil suit targets Shell’s subsidiary in Brazil for collective material and moral damages stemming from the extreme weather event that hit Rio Grande do Sul state. Torrential rains in April and May 2024 sparked historic flooding that left nearly 200 people dead and 500,000 others displaced, according to The Jakarta Post. Public prosecutors stated that Shell’s financial liability should match its estimated contribution to global warming, which they calculate at two percent of historical global greenhouse gas emissions. The British energy giant faces accountability due to past and current emissions tied to the exploration, production, and sale of fossil fuels.
Lawsuit marks first prosecutor action against oil major
Maria Antonia Tigre, director of global climate litigation at the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, told AFP that this filing marks the first time a national public prosecutor has sued an oil major for a climate disaster. Thales Miola, a lawyer at Instituto Preservar, stated in a press release that the costs of climate damage should not fall solely on society and those who lost everything in the tragedy. This litigation aligns with broader international efforts where claimants seek compensation proportional to a company’s greenhouse gas emissions. German courts reviewed a similar principle last year in a case brought by Peruvian farmer Saul Luciano Lliuya against energy company RWE, leaving the door open to holding major emitters liable for climate-related payments.
Climate lawsuits face pending claims and setbacks globally
Similar lawsuits remain pending across several jurisdictions. Philippine victims of Typhoon Odette filed claims against Shell in the UK, residents of Pari island in Indonesia targeted cement maker Holcim in Switzerland, and Pakistani farmers affected by 2022 floods brought actions against RWE and Heidelberg Materials in Germany. At the same time, climate groups have faced setbacks after losing lawsuits against oil companies in the United States. In New Zealand, the government altered legislation to block a lawsuit brought by Maori activist Mike Smith against six domestic companies, though Smith vowed to continue the legal fight.
Prosecutors demand millions from Shell for floods
How much money are prosecutors seeking from Shell?
Prosecutors are demanding more than 541 million reais, cited as $100 million by Carbon Pulse and $108 million by The Jakarta Post, to cover material and moral damages.
Which organizations filed the lawsuit against Shell?
The civil suit was brought jointly by Brazilian federal prosecutors and Instituto Preservar, a Brazilian environmental non-governmental organization.
What specific weather event prompted the legal action?
The lawsuit responds to historic flooding in southern Brazil during April and May 2024 caused by torrential rains that left nearly 200 people dead and 500,000 displaced in Rio Grande do Sul state.
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