Four in 10 Brits think fossil fuel companies should start paying compensation for the damage caused by climate change, as wildfires leave widespread devastation across parts of Europe and the UK, and hundreds of people are evacuated from the fire raging in Suffolk.
The new Survation poll comes after oil giant Shell announced quarterly profits of $9.8 billion (over £7.3 billion) on Thursday morning, as campaigners and the public call for more action.
Most (54 per cent) want to see oil firms pay for the cost of repairing damage to homes caused by more extreme weather, as well as compensation for loss of income or livelihoods (45 per cent) and personal payments to anyone injured, traumatised or even bereaved by climate-induced weather disasters (45 per cent).
Robert Palmer, deputy director of Uplift, said: “Scientists cannot be clearer that climate change is being driven by the burning of fossil fuels. We can see that the costs for countries to try to adapt their infrastructure to the changing weather is spiralling.
“Shell and other oil and gas profiteers should pick up that bill to deal with the crisis they’ve helped to create, rather than leaving it just to individuals and taxpayers.
“Shell is making billions – including an Iran war bonus – while the rest of us are left carrying the costs in unaffordable energy bills and extreme weather.”
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