Shell faces legal battle in London over oil pollution in Nigeria

A Nigerian king has taken oil giant Shell to court in London, arguing that decades of spills have poisoned his community’s water and land, while the company denies responsibility.

Damien Gayle reports for The Guardian.

In short:

King Godwin Bebe Okpabi, leader of the Ogale community in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, is suing Shell over chronic oil pollution, which he says has caused widespread illness and environmental destruction.
A 2011 UN report found severe contamination in the region, including benzene levels in drinking water 900 times higher than World Health Organization guidelines, with recent tests showing even worse conditions.
Shell argues it is not liable for spills linked to oil theft and illegal refining, while the case will be decided under Nigerian law in a full trial set for 2026.

Key quote:

“This is poison, and they are spending millions of dollars to pay the best lawyers in the world so that they will not clean my land.”

— King Godwin Bebe Okpabi

Why this matters:

The oil spills in Nigeria’s Niger Delta have left behind a trail of environmental and human suffering. For decades, leaking pipelines and blowouts have drenched the region in crude oil, poisoning waterways, farmlands, and the air itself. The health toll has been just as devastating. Cancer rates in affected communities are climbing, birth defects are on the rise, and respiratory illnesses are common. Many residents are forced to drink from polluted water sources, their options dwindling as cleanup efforts stall. Despite legal victories ordering oil giants like Shell to take responsibility, progress has been sluggish.

Now, Shell faces a landmark case that could reshape how multinational corporations are held accountable for environmental disasters. If successful, the case could pave the way for stricter enforcement and greater financial liability, but for many in the Niger Delta, the damage is already done.

Learn more: Nigeria considers restarting oil production in polluted delta region

www.theguardian.com

Credit: Getty Images / Unsplash+

Climate change is accelerating health threats worldwide

The Lancet Countdown - established in 2016 to annually assess the effects of climate change on health - released a ten year report and accompanying editorial.

In short:

For the first time, the report quantifies heat-related deaths attributable to climate change, estimated at about 370,000 a year. The past 11 years have been the hottest ever recorded.
The report examined 54 indicators of climate change-driven health impacts and found that many health threats had increased or accelerated over the past decade.
Populations least responsible for climate change are experiencing the highest impacts.

Key quote:

“Over the past 10 years, a strong evidence-based case has been made that responding to climate change could be the greatest health opportunity of the 21st century.”

Why this matters:

The report points out how fossil fuel interests are blocking progress on climate change. It tracks not only heat-related deaths, as mentioned above, but also other climate related effects on health caused by floods, landslides, droughts, viruses, and more. It also tracks improvements, for example, estimating that the transition to clean energy prevented 400,000 deaths in 2023 just through improved indoor air quality. Health professionals are trusted sources of information and can speak for policy change and action for a healthier future.

Related EHN coverage:

More resources: The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change

Source:

Romanello, Marina et al. (2026), The 2026 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: a decade of escalating health harms and a decisive moment for all. The Lancet.

Related editorial, Climate change and health: 10 years on, what next? The Lancet.

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