A Dutch court will give its verdict on Wednesday on a landmark bid by environmental groups to force oil giant Shell to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets in the Paris climate accords.

Dubbed "the People versus Shell", the case was launched in 2019 by the Netherlands branch of Friends of the Earth, and is backed by six other groups and more than 17,000 Dutch citizens.

Anglo-Dutch multinational Shell says it is making serious efforts to cut gas emissions, but argues that there is no legal basis for the case and that governments are responsible for meeting Paris targets.

"The climate case against Shell is unique because it is the first time in history that judges have been asked to order a company to emit less CO2 by changing its policy," Friends of the Earth Netherlands said in a statement.

Judges at the district court in The Hague will start reading the verdict at 1300 GMT.

The case is one of a series around the world in which citizens and campaigners frustrated with inaction on climate change have hauled governments and big polluters before the courts.

The 2015 Paris accords committed all nations to cut carbon emissions to limit warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and encouraged them to go down to 1.5 degrees.

The campaigners asked the court during hearings in December to order Anglo-Dutch multinational Shell to reduce emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 in order to help achieve that goal.

Shell has said it will reduce the "net carbon footprint" of the products it sells by 30 percent by 2035, and reach 65 percent by 2050.

'Historic opportunity'

But ActionAid Netherlands executive director Marit Maij said that "big polluters like Shell have an outsized responsibility to help tackle climate change."

"We hope the judge will take this historic opportunity to hold Shell accountable for its actions and ensure it cuts its emissions in line with the Paris Agreement," Maij said.

The group said Shell's "strategy is to keep polluting while offsetting their emissions with vast tree plantations."&nbsp;

"This will require land the equivalent of three times the size of the Netherlands, which risks driving conflicts over food and land in the Global South", she added.

Dozens of climate marchers handed in the lawsuit to Shell's headquarters in the Netherlands in The Hague in April 2019 in what organisers said was the first case of its kind.

Shell's lawyers told the court in December that the company was already taking "serious steps" to support the global transition away from the fossil fuels, and that the ultimate decision rested with governments.

It said there was no legal basis for the case, and no legal rule that made Shell's emissions unlawful.

Campaigners are hoping to repeat the success of a case brought by the green group Urgenda in which the Dutch Supreme Court in 2019 ordered the state to slash emissions by at least 25 &nbsp;of 1990 levels by the end of 2020.

The Netherlands, particularly vulnerable to climate change as a third of the country is below sea level, has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions by 49 percent by 2030.

A Dutch court will give its verdict on Wednesday on a landmark bid by environmental groups to force oil giant Shell to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets in the Paris climate accords.

A Dutch court will give its verdict on Wednesday on a landmark bid by environmental groups to force oil giant Shell to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets in the Paris climate accords. Dubbed "the People versus Shell", the case was launched in 2019 by the Netherlands branch of Friends of the Earth, and is backed by six other groups and more than 17,000 Dutch citizens. Anglo-Dutch multinational Shell says it is making serious efforts to cut gas emissions, but argues that there is no legal basis for the case and that governments are responsible for meeting Paris targets. "The climate case against Shell is unique because it is the first time in history that judges have been asked to order a company to emit less CO2 by changing its policy," Friends of the Earth Netherlands said in a statement. Judges at the district court in The Hague will start reading the verdict at 1300 GMT. The case is one of a series around the world in which citizens and campaigners frustrated with inaction on climate change have hauled governments and big polluters before the courts. The 2015 Paris accords committed all nations to cut carbon emissions to limit warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and encouraged them to go down to 1.5 degrees. The campaigners asked the court during hearings in December to order Anglo-Dutch multinational Shell to reduce emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 in order to help achieve that goal. Shell has said it will reduce the "net carbon footprint" of the products it sells by 30 percent by 2035, and reach 65 percent by 2050. 'Historic opportunity' But ActionAid Netherlands executive director Marit Maij said that "big polluters like Shell have an outsized responsibility to help tackle climate change." "We hope the judge will take this historic opportunity to hold Shell accountable for its actions and ensure it cuts its emissions in line with the Paris Agreement," Maij said. The group said Shell's "strategy is to keep polluting while offsetting their emissions with vast tree plantations." "This will require land the equivalent of three times the size of the Netherlands, which risks driving conflicts over food and land in the Global South", she added. Dozens of climate marchers handed in the lawsuit to Shell's headquarters in the Netherlands in The Hague in April 2019 in what organisers said was the first case of its kind. Shell's lawyers told the court in December that the company was already taking "serious steps" to support the global transition away from the fossil fuels, and that the ultimate decision rested with governments. It said there was no legal basis for the case, and no legal rule that made Shell's emissions unlawful. Campaigners are hoping to repeat the success of a case brought by the green group Urgenda in which the Dutch Supreme Court in 2019 ordered the state to slash emissions by at least 25 of 1990 levels by the end of 2020. The Netherlands, particularly vulnerable to climate change as a third of the country is below sea level, has pledged to reduce CO2 emissions by 49 percent by 2030.

Dutch court to rule in Shell climate case

Royal&nbsp;Dutch&nbsp;Shell&nbsp;swung back into profit in the first quarter as oil prices recovered strongly from a year earlier, the company said Thursday.

The Anglo-Dutch&nbsp;group posted net profit of $5.7 billion (4.7 billion euros) in the first three months of the year,&nbsp;Shell&nbsp;said in a statement.

That compared with a loss after tax of $24 million in the first quarter of 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic began to slam the price of crude.

The first-quarter performance this year benefitted also from a $1.4-billion gain following the sale of assets, the statement added.&nbsp;

"Shell&nbsp;has made a strong start to 2021, generating over $8 billion of cash in the quarter," said chief executive Ben van Beurden.

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"Our... model is ideally positioned to benefit from recovering demand."

Shell&nbsp;had dived into net loss of $21.7 billion last year as factories shut and planes were grounded.

As a result, it decided to axe more than 10 per cent of its global workforce, or up to 9,000 jobs.

Its losses and steep job cuts mirrored the situation elsewhere in the energy sector last year.&nbsp;

After lockdowns began to spread towards the end of the first quarter in 2020, oil prices dropped off a cliff, even briefly turning negative.

Prices then rebounded sharply, however, with benchmark Brent North Sea oil contract currently trading around $67 per barrel.

Shell&nbsp;rival BP also recovered in the first quarter, announcing this week net profit of $4.7 billion, which compared with a year-earlier loss of $4.4 billion.

France's Total, meanwhile, posted a net profit of $3.3 billion in the first quarter that was even higher than pre-pandemic levels.

On Thursday in the wake of its own results, shares in&nbsp;Shell&nbsp;climbed around 1.0 per cent in early London deals.

"Fortunately for investors these latest results come without the drama seen this time last year when&nbsp;Shell&nbsp;cut its dividend for the first time since the Second World War," said Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Interactive Investor.

Shell&nbsp;this time around increased its dividend payout by about 4.0 per cent compared with the final quarter of last year.

Bowman meanwhile noted that extreme winter weather hitting&nbsp;Shell's US Texas operations had dragged on adjusted earnings, "although, as with rivals, an upturn in energy prices has aided profit generation".&nbsp;

Shell&nbsp;said this year's deadly Texas winter storm cost the group $200 million in the first quarter on reduced oil output.

February's polar vortex storm killed dozens of people, left millions without electricity and water, caused billions of dollars of damage to the sector and forced several Texas electric firms to file for bankruptcy.

The freezing temperatures also caused outages at energy installations...natural gas-fired power plants, wind turbines and nuclear plants, which are not typically insulated as they are in other states with colder climates.

Royal Dutch Shell swung back into profit in the first quarter as oil prices recovered strongly from a year earlier, the company said Thursday. The Anglo-Dutch group posted net profit of $5.

Royal Dutch Shell swung back into profit in the first quarter as oil prices recovered strongly from a year earlier, the company said Thursday. The Anglo-Dutch group posted net profit of $5.7 billion (4.7 billion euros) in the first three months of the year, Shell said in a statement. That compared with a loss after tax of $24 million in the first quarter of 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic began to slam the price of crude. The first-quarter performance this year benefitted also from a $1.4-billion gain following the sale of assets, the statement added. "Shell has made a strong start to 2021, generating over $8 billion of cash in the quarter," said chief executive Ben van Beurden. "Our... model is ideally positioned to benefit from recovering demand." Shell had dived into net loss of $21.7 billion last year as factories shut and planes were grounded. As a result, it decided to axe more than 10 per cent of its global workforce, or up to 9,000 jobs. Its losses and steep job cuts mirrored the situation elsewhere in the energy sector last year. After lockdowns began to spread towards the end of the first quarter in 2020, oil prices dropped off a cliff, even briefly turning negative. Prices then rebounded sharply, however, with benchmark Brent North Sea oil contract currently trading around $67 per barrel. Shell rival BP also recovered in the first quarter, announcing this week net profit of $4.7 billion, which compared with a year-earlier loss of $4.4 billion. France's Total, meanwhile, posted a net profit of $3.3 billion in the first quarter that was even higher than pre-pandemic levels. On Thursday in the wake of its own results, shares in Shell climbed around 1.0 per cent in early London deals. "Fortunately for investors these latest results come without the drama seen this time last year when Shell cut its dividend for the first time since the Second World War," said Keith Bowman, equity analyst at Interactive Investor. Shell this time around increased its dividend payout by about 4.0 per cent compared with the final quarter of last year. Bowman meanwhile noted that extreme winter weather hitting Shell's US Texas operations had dragged on adjusted earnings, "although, as with rivals, an upturn in energy prices has aided profit generation". Shell said this year's deadly Texas winter storm cost the group $200 million in the first quarter on reduced oil output. February's polar vortex storm killed dozens of people, left millions without electricity and water, caused billions of dollars of damage to the sector and forced several Texas electric firms to file for bankruptcy. The freezing temperatures also caused outages at energy installations...natural gas-fired power plants, wind turbines and nuclear plants, which are not typically insulated as they are in other states with colder climates.

Shell swings back to profit on oil price recovery

After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday. &nbsp;

Scientists believe the ancient conch, from a species of large sea snail still present in the Atlantic and North Sea, is the oldest wind instrument of its type yet found. &nbsp;

The shell was unearthed in 1931 at an archaeological dig in the Pyrenees near the mouth of the Marsoulas Cave, whose walls are painted with the artwork of Magdalenian people living there at the end of the last ice age. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Scientists initially thought it bore no trace of human modification, assuming it was a type of ceremonial drinking cup. &nbsp;

It was taken to the Museum of Natural History in Toulouse and forgotten. &nbsp; &nbsp;

But a new examination using modern technology found not only that it had been altered, but that it could still hold a note.&nbsp;

Or three, as it turned out. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Played by a musician, it had tones close to C, C sharp and D. And it boomed at a resounding 100 decibels a metre from the conch. &nbsp; &nbsp;

"This sound is a link, a direct link with Magdalenian people," said Carole Fritz, lead author of the study and a senior scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. &nbsp;&nbsp;

She said it was "very important because you have the sea in the cave", adding the shell was from the Atlantic, some 200 kilometres from the cave. &nbsp;

Instruments older than the conch have been found -- flutes whittled from the bones of large birds like swans and eagles -- but the researchers said this was the oldest shell horn, symbolising the importance of the ocean to Magdalenian people. &nbsp;

The study, published in Science Advances, said radio-carbon dating of items at the cave suggest it was occupied around 18,000 years ago.&nbsp;

After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday.

After more than 17,000 years of silence and decades forgotten in a French museum, a shell fashioned into a horn by our prehistoric ancestors has been played again as a result of new research published on Wednesday. Scientists believe the ancient conch, from a species of large sea snail still present in the Atlantic and North Sea, is the oldest wind instrument of its type yet found. The shell was unearthed in 1931 at an archaeological dig in the Pyrenees near the mouth of the Marsoulas Cave, whose walls are painted with the artwork of Magdalenian people living there at the end of the last ice age. Scientists initially thought it bore no trace of human modification, assuming it was a type of ceremonial drinking cup. It was taken to the Museum of Natural History in Toulouse and forgotten. But a new examination using modern technology found not only that it had been altered, but that it could still hold a note. Or three, as it turned out. Played by a musician, it had tones close to C, C sharp and D. And it boomed at a resounding 100 decibels a metre from the conch. "This sound is a link, a direct link with Magdalenian people," said Carole Fritz, lead author of the study and a senior scientist at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. She said it was "very important because you have the sea in the cave", adding the shell was from the Atlantic, some 200 kilometres from the cave. Instruments older than the conch have been found -- flutes whittled from the bones of large birds like swans and eagles -- but the researchers said this was the oldest shell horn, symbolising the importance of the ocean to Magdalenian people. The study, published in Science Advances, said radio-carbon dating of items at the cave suggest it was occupied around 18,000 years ago.

Oldest shell horn played for first time after 17,000 years

Royal Dutch Shell's profit last year dropped to its lowest in at least two decades as the coronavirus pandemic hit energy demand worldwide though the company's retail network and trading business helped cushion the blow.

Shell's profit slumps in 2020 as the pandemic bites

Royal Dutch Shell announced on Thursday that it had suffered a net loss of USD 21.7 billion in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic-hit year had seen a massive drop in demand for energy.

In 2019, the Anglo-Dutch company had registered a net profit of USD 1.8 billion. Shell's result is similar to British rival BP, which on Tuesday reported a 2020 &nbsp;net loss of $20.3 billion.

Both companies are cutting jobs to tackle the economic fallout from the pandemic.

After governments worldwide closed their doors and airlines grounded planes towards the end of last year's first quarter, oil prices dropped off a cliff, even briefly turning negative.

Prices then rebounded sharply however -- and they soared Tuesday to pre-pandemic levels on the brightening economic outlook as more progress was reported on vaccines.

(With AFP inputs)

Royal Dutch Shell announced on Thursday that it had suffered a net loss of USD 21.7 billion in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic-hit year had seen a massive drop in demand for energy.

Royal Dutch Shell announced on Thursday that it had suffered a net loss of USD 21.7 billion in 2020. The coronavirus pandemic-hit year had seen a massive drop in demand for energy. In 2019, the Anglo-Dutch company had registered a net profit of USD 1.8 billion. Shell's result is similar to British rival BP, which on Tuesday reported a 2020 net loss of $20.3 billion. Both companies are cutting jobs to tackle the economic fallout from the pandemic. After governments worldwide closed their doors and airlines grounded planes towards the end of last year's first quarter, oil prices dropped off a cliff, even briefly turning negative. Prices then rebounded sharply however -- and they soared Tuesday to pre-pandemic levels on the brightening economic outlook as more progress was reported on vaccines. (With AFP inputs)

Oil giant Shell suffered loss of $21 billion in 2020

Oil companies began shutting offshore drilling operations on Sunday as part of preparations in the wake of tropical storm Sally. The storm which is predicted to turn into a hurricane in next two days is currently off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.&nbsp;

The landfall of Sally is expected in next two days

Royal Dutch Shell began shutting some of its offshore drilling operations on Sunday.

Tropical Storm Sally is not projected to approach the size or intensity of Hurricane Laura in August, but it will cause up to 12-foot (4.2m) swells offshore, said Jim Foerster, chief meteorologist for DTN, an energy, agriculture and weather data provider.

The storm strengthened as it crept up the warm waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, carrying winds that could reach 100 miles per hour (160 kph) ahead of landfall on Tuesday, forecasters said.

Sally was upgraded to an "extremely dangerous" potential Category 2 hurricane. It was about 300 miles (482 km) from the mouth of the Mississippi River and moving at 13 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. At 8 a.m. EDT, its sustained winds had increased to 50 mph, the NHC said.

Chevron Corp. and Murphy Oil Corp on Saturday began evacuations from offshore production platforms, spokespeople said. Chevron`s Pascagoula, Mississippi, refinery was implementing storm preparedness procedures, the company said.

Other oil producers with drilling rigs and platforms in the area said they were monitoring the storm and prepared to take action as needed.

Oil companies began shutting offshore drilling operations on Sunday as part of preparations in the wake of tropical storm Sally. The storm which is predicted to turn into a hurricane in next two days is currently off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean.

Oil companies began shutting offshore drilling operations on Sunday as part of preparations in the wake of tropical storm Sally. The storm which is predicted to turn into a hurricane in next two days is currently off the coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. The landfall of Sally is expected in next two days Royal Dutch Shell began shutting some of its offshore drilling operations on Sunday. Tropical Storm Sally is not projected to approach the size or intensity of Hurricane Laura in August, but it will cause up to 12-foot (4.2m) swells offshore, said Jim Foerster, chief meteorologist for DTN, an energy, agriculture and weather data provider. The storm strengthened as it crept up the warm waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico on Sunday, carrying winds that could reach 100 miles per hour (160 kph) ahead of landfall on Tuesday, forecasters said. Sally was upgraded to an "extremely dangerous" potential Category 2 hurricane. It was about 300 miles (482 km) from the mouth of the Mississippi River and moving at 13 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. At 8 a.m. EDT, its sustained winds had increased to 50 mph, the NHC said. Chevron Corp. and Murphy Oil Corp on Saturday began evacuations from offshore production platforms, spokespeople said. Chevron`s Pascagoula, Mississippi, refinery was implementing storm preparedness procedures, the company said. Other oil producers with drilling rigs and platforms in the area said they were monitoring the storm and prepared to take action as needed.

Oil companies begin halting US offshore drilling as 'Sally' approaches

Australia's parliament voted Monday to implement a maritime border treaty with East Timor, potentially unlocking billions in offshore oil and gas revenue after a bitter decade-long dispute.

The treaty is expected to provide a major boost to East Timor, one of Asia's poorest countries, by establishing new arrangements for sharing revenue from the Greater Sunrise gas fields in the Timor Sea.

It comes just days after East Timor's parliament voted in favour of ratifying the treaty, which the two countries signed at the United Nations in March 2018 and was the first-ever reached under a special conciliation mechanism of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Discovered in 1974, the lucrative Greater Sunrise fields - located 150 kilometres (93 miles) southeast of East Timor and 450 kilometres northwest of Darwin - are estimated to be worth between US$40 and $50 billion.

East Timor plans to develop the gas fields through a pipeline that would reach the country's south coast, with hopes it would provide much-needed employment opportunities, though Australia has cast doubt on the smaller nation's capacity to do so.

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in the Senate Monday that the treaty "settled a long-running dispute over our maritime boundaries, agreed upon a pathway for the development of Greater Sunrise and laid the foundation for a new chapter in our bilateral relations".

Australia has seen its international reputation damaged by the dispute with its less powerful neighbour, with Dili dragging Canberra to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague after contesting a previous deal signed in 2006.

East Timor wanted that treaty, which also covered the vast Greater Sunrise fields, torn up after Australia was accused of spying to gain a commercial advantage during the negotiations.

As the dispute escalated, a group of energy companies including Australia's Woodside, ConocoPhillips, Shell, and Osaka Gas decided to mothball plans to develop the fields.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said during the House of Representatives debate on Friday that the lengthy dispute "has not done a great deal for Australia's standing as good neighbours to one of the newest nations on the planet".

Australia has continued to profit from an oil field stake that is set to be handed to East Timor under the treaty, taking an estimated AUS$60 million in the 12 months after the treaty was signed but not ratified, national broadcaster ABC reported.

East Timor was invaded by Indonesia in 1975 before it gained independence in 2002 after a UN-sponsored referendum in 1999, which will be marked by 20th-anniversary celebrations on August 30.

Australia's parliament voted Monday to implement a maritime border treaty with East Timor, potentially unlocking billions in offshore oil and gas revenue after a bitter decade-long dispute.

Australia's parliament voted Monday to implement a maritime border treaty with East Timor, potentially unlocking billions in offshore oil and gas revenue after a bitter decade-long dispute. The treaty is expected to provide a major boost to East Timor, one of Asia's poorest countries, by establishing new arrangements for sharing revenue from the Greater Sunrise gas fields in the Timor Sea. It comes just days after East Timor's parliament voted in favour of ratifying the treaty, which the two countries signed at the United Nations in March 2018 and was the first-ever reached under a special conciliation mechanism of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Discovered in 1974, the lucrative Greater Sunrise fields - located 150 kilometres (93 miles) southeast of East Timor and 450 kilometres northwest of Darwin - are estimated to be worth between US$40 and $50 billion. East Timor plans to develop the gas fields through a pipeline that would reach the country's south coast, with hopes it would provide much-needed employment opportunities, though Australia has cast doubt on the smaller nation's capacity to do so. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in the Senate Monday that the treaty "settled a long-running dispute over our maritime boundaries, agreed upon a pathway for the development of Greater Sunrise and laid the foundation for a new chapter in our bilateral relations". Australia has seen its international reputation damaged by the dispute with its less powerful neighbour, with Dili dragging Canberra to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague after contesting a previous deal signed in 2006. East Timor wanted that treaty, which also covered the vast Greater Sunrise fields, torn up after Australia was accused of spying to gain a commercial advantage during the negotiations. As the dispute escalated, a group of energy companies including Australia's Woodside, ConocoPhillips, Shell, and Osaka Gas decided to mothball plans to develop the fields. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said during the House of Representatives debate on Friday that the lengthy dispute "has not done a great deal for Australia's standing as good neighbours to one of the newest nations on the planet". Australia has continued to profit from an oil field stake that is set to be handed to East Timor under the treaty, taking an estimated AUS$60 million in the 12 months after the treaty was signed but not ratified, national broadcaster ABC reported. East Timor was invaded by Indonesia in 1975 before it gained independence in 2002 after a UN-sponsored referendum in 1999, which will be marked by 20th-anniversary celebrations on August 30.

Australia ratifies maritime boundaries with East Timor

King Emere Godwin Bebe Okpabi holds up a plastic bottle containing contaminated water from his community in Nigeria, proof of oil pollution that he blames on Royal Dutch Shell -- and on which he hopes a London court will deliver justice. 
 
&quot;My people are drinking this water,&quot; said the tribal king of the Ogale community in the oil-rich Niger Delta.&nbsp; 
 
Okpabi has flown to London for a High Court hearing on Tuesday in which lawyers for more than 40,000 Nigerians are demanding action from Shell to clean up oil spills that have devastated their communities for decades. 
 
&quot;There are strange diseases in my community -- skin diseases, people are dying sudden deaths, some people are impotent, low sperm count,&quot; he told AFP. &quot;I can afford to buy water. But can I afford to buy for everybody? No.&quot; 
 
The Anglo-Dutch oil giant argues that the case should be heard in Nigeria, pointing out that it involves its Nigerian subsidiary SPDC, which runs a joint venture with the government, and Nigerian plaintiffs. 
 
But Okpabi, wearing a traditional robe with a red necklace and black top hat, said the English justice system was his only hope to end the blight on his people&#39;s lives. 
 
&quot;Shell is Nigeria and Nigeria is Shell. You can never, never defeat Shell in a Nigerian court. The truth is that the Nigerian legal system is corrupt,&quot; he said. 
 
He wants the High Court to compel Shell to implement a 2011 landmark report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which warned of dangerously high levels of hydrocarbons in the water, bitumen-coated mangroves and poor air quality. 
 
It should order the company to &quot;go and clean-up Ogale, go and provide water for them; go and do medical history for them, and where medical attention is needed provide for them,&quot; he said. 
 
The king said no money would be enough to address the damage, which UNEP warned could take 25 to 30 years to resolve, but wants compensation, adding: &quot;We are dying.&quot; 
 
Sabotage 
 
Shell will challenge the jurisdiction of the English courts in the case during three days of hearings this week, while it also disputes the claims made by lawyers Leigh Day, who represent Ogale and the smaller Bille community. 
 
&quot;Both Bille and Ogale are areas heavily impacted by crude oil theft, pipeline sabotage and illegal refining which remain the main sources of pollution across the Niger Delta,&quot; a company spokeswoman said. 
 
She noted SPDC has not produced any oil or gas in Ogoniland, the region surrounding Ogale, since 1993.&nbsp; 
 
But Okpabi and his lawyers say the company&#39;s ageing, leaky pipelines still run through the region and it must take responsibility. 
 
SPDC says it has delivered water and healthcare to the community and is supporting the implementation of the UNEP process by the government, which in June launched a $1 billion (&pound;800 million, 940 million euros) oil pollution clean-up programme in the Niger Delta. 
 
Okpabi said he believed President Muhammadu Buhari is &quot;sincere&quot; in wanting to address the issue, but warned: &quot;If we wait for the system to roll on its own, I hate to say this, but it may be too late for the people of Ogale.&quot; 
 
Attacks on Nigerian pipelines have increased this year, cutting output and helping tip the country into recession, but Okpabi insists &quot;there is no vandalising&quot; in Ogale. 
 
The king condemned the saboteurs, warning that &quot;you cannot bomb your house to get attention&quot;. 
 
However, he added: &quot;I&#39;m also appealing to Shell and the Nigerian government to listen to those communities that are non-violent and do something.&quot; 
 
In January 2015, Shell agreed to pay more than $80 million to the Nigerian fishing community of Bodo for two oil spills in 2008, following a case brought by Leigh Day in London. 
 
In December, a Dutch court permitted four Nigerian farmers and fishermen to sue the company for environmental pollution, potentially opening the door to other cases to be brought in the Netherlands.

(AFP)

He has flown to London for a hearing in which lawyers for more than 40,000 Nigerians are demanding action from Shell to clean up oil spill

King Emere Godwin Bebe Okpabi holds up a plastic bottle containing contaminated water from his community in Nigeria, proof of oil pollution that he blames on Royal Dutch Shell -- and on which he hopes a London court will deliver justice. "My people are drinking this water," said the tribal king of the Ogale community in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Okpabi has flown to London for a High Court hearing on Tuesday in which lawyers for more than 40,000 Nigerians are demanding action from Shell to clean up oil spills that have devastated their communities for decades. "There are strange diseases in my community -- skin diseases, people are dying sudden deaths, some people are impotent, low sperm count," he told AFP. "I can afford to buy water. But can I afford to buy for everybody? No." The Anglo-Dutch oil giant argues that the case should be heard in Nigeria, pointing out that it involves its Nigerian subsidiary SPDC, which runs a joint venture with the government, and Nigerian plaintiffs. But Okpabi, wearing a traditional robe with a red necklace and black top hat, said the English justice system was his only hope to end the blight on his people's lives. "Shell is Nigeria and Nigeria is Shell. You can never, never defeat Shell in a Nigerian court. The truth is that the Nigerian legal system is corrupt," he said. He wants the High Court to compel Shell to implement a 2011 landmark report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which warned of dangerously high levels of hydrocarbons in the water, bitumen-coated mangroves and poor air quality. It should order the company to "go and clean-up Ogale, go and provide water for them; go and do medical history for them, and where medical attention is needed provide for them," he said. The king said no money would be enough to address the damage, which UNEP warned could take 25 to 30 years to resolve, but wants compensation, adding: "We are dying." Sabotage Shell will challenge the jurisdiction of the English courts in the case during three days of hearings this week, while it also disputes the claims made by lawyers Leigh Day, who represent Ogale and the smaller Bille community. "Both Bille and Ogale are areas heavily impacted by crude oil theft, pipeline sabotage and illegal refining which remain the main sources of pollution across the Niger Delta," a company spokeswoman said. She noted SPDC has not produced any oil or gas in Ogoniland, the region surrounding Ogale, since 1993. But Okpabi and his lawyers say the company's ageing, leaky pipelines still run through the region and it must take responsibility. SPDC says it has delivered water and healthcare to the community and is supporting the implementation of the UNEP process by the government, which in June launched a $1 billion (£800 million, 940 million euros) oil pollution clean-up programme in the Niger Delta. Okpabi said he believed President Muhammadu Buhari is "sincere" in wanting to address the issue, but warned: "If we wait for the system to roll on its own, I hate to say this, but it may be too late for the people of Ogale." Attacks on Nigerian pipelines have increased this year, cutting output and helping tip the country into recession, but Okpabi insists "there is no vandalising" in Ogale. The king condemned the saboteurs, warning that "you cannot bomb your house to get attention". However, he added: "I'm also appealing to Shell and the Nigerian government to listen to those communities that are non-violent and do something." In January 2015, Shell agreed to pay more than $80 million to the Nigerian fishing community of Bodo for two oil spills in 2008, following a case brought by Leigh Day in London. In December, a Dutch court permitted four Nigerian farmers and fishermen to sue the company for environmental pollution, potentially opening the door to other cases to be brought in the Netherlands. (AFP)

With polluted water in hand, Nigerian king takes Shell to court in London

King Emere Godwin Bebe Okpabi holds up a plastic bottle containing contaminated water from his community in Nigeria, proof of oil pollution that he blames on Royal Dutch Shell -- and on which he hopes a London court will deliver justice.

&quot;My people are drinking this water,&quot; said the tribal king of the Ogale community in the oil-rich Niger Delta.&nbsp;

Okpabi has flown to London for a High Court hearing on Tuesday in which lawyers for more than 40,000 Nigerians are demanding action from Shell to clean up oil spills that have devastated their communities for decades.

&quot;There are strange diseases in my community -- skin diseases, people are dying sudden deaths, some people are impotent, low sperm count,&quot; he told AFP. &quot;I can afford to buy water. But can I afford to buy for everybody? No.&quot;

The Anglo-Dutch oil giant argues that the case should be heard in Nigeria, pointing out that it involves its Nigerian subsidiary SPDC, which runs a joint venture with the government, and Nigerian plaintiffs.

But Okpabi, wearing a traditional robe with a red necklace and black top hat, said the English justice system was his only hope to end the blight on his people&#39;s lives.

&quot;Shell is Nigeria and Nigeria is Shell. You can never, never defeat Shell in a Nigerian court. The truth is that the Nigerian legal system is corrupt,&quot; he said.

He wants the High Court to compel Shell to implement a 2011 landmark report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which warned of dangerously high levels of hydrocarbons in the water, bitumen-coated mangroves and poor air quality.

It should order the company to &quot;go and clean-up Ogale, go and provide water for them; go and do medical history for them, and where medical attention is needed provide for them,&quot; he said.

The king said no money would be enough to address the damage, which UNEP warned could take 25 to 30 years to resolve, but wants compensation, adding: &quot;We are dying.&quot;

Sabotage&nbsp;

Shell will challenge the jurisdiction of the English courts in the case during three days of hearings this week, while it also disputes the claims made by lawyers Leigh Day, who represent Ogale and the smaller Bille community.

&quot;Both Bille and Ogale are areas heavily impacted by crude oil theft, pipeline sabotage and illegal refining which remain the main sources of pollution across the Niger Delta,&quot; a company spokeswoman said.

She noted SPDC has not produced any oil or gas in Ogoniland, the region surrounding Ogale, since 1993.&nbsp;

But Okpabi and his lawyers say the company&#39;s ageing, leaky pipelines still run through the region and it must take responsibility.

SPDC says it has delivered water and healthcare to the community and is supporting the implementation of the UNEP process by the government, which in June launched a $1 billion (&pound;800 million, 940 million euros) oil pollution clean-up programme in the Niger Delta.

Okpabi said he believed President Muhammadu Buhari is &quot;sincere&quot; in wanting to address the issue, but warned: &quot;If we wait for the system to roll on its own, I hate to say this, but it may be too late for the people of Ogale.&quot;

Attacks on Nigerian pipelines have increased this year, cutting output and helping tip the country into recession, but Okpabi insists &quot;there is no vandalising&quot; in Ogale.

The king condemned the saboteurs, warning that &quot;you cannot bomb your house to get attention&quot;.

However, he added: &quot;I&#39;m also appealing to Shell and the Nigerian government to listen to those communities that are non-violent and do something.&quot;

In January 2015, Shell agreed to pay more than $80 million to the Nigerian fishing community of Bodo for two oil spills in 2008, following a case brought by Leigh Day in London.

In December, a Dutch court permitted four Nigerian farmers and fishermen to sue the company for environmental pollution, potentially opening the door to other cases to be brought in the Netherlands.

(AFP)

Lawyers for over 40,000 Nigerians are demanding action from Shell to clean up oil spills that have devastated their communities for decades

Polluted water in hand, Nigerian king takes oil company Shell to court in London

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