MOST Britons believe fossil fuel companies should compensate communities after extreme weather destroys their homes or livelihoods, a poll showed today. 

The findings were released as a Suffolk wildfire near Britain’s biggest nuclear power station caused “total devastation” to one of Britain’s most important landscapes. 

It was stabilised on its second day yesterday, having torn through the entire Dunwich Heath National Trust as it destroyed 370 acres of coastal healthland vegetation and forest.  

The blaze took hold on Thursday as half of England was declared in drought and oil giant Shell announced quarterly profits of £7.3 billion. Its bigger-than-expected 70 per cent surge in half-year earnings were driven by soaring oil prices due to US President Donald Trump’s war in Iran. 

The research was commissioned by campaigners backing a group of more than 100 Filipinos that are suing Shell in Britain in a landmark case over its decades-long contribution to climate change. 

Madeleine Lynch, a campaigner with the Odette Case, which commissioned the research, said: “Most people are now wise to the central role that oil companies play in driving climate change. 

“Whether it’s the wildfires and extreme heat facing Europe today or the more destructive storms overseas, the costs of these disasters are being heaped on ordinary people while oil giants like Shell push ahead with new drilling — like the Rosebank oil field – in pursuit of bigger profits.” 

The Survation survey found that 54 per cent want to see oil firms pay for the cost of repairing damage to homes caused by flooding or wildfires that can be attributed to climate change. 

Nearly one in four of those polled reported being personally affected by climate change, including from flooding.  Some 41 per cent of the public thinks that fossil fuel companies like Shell and BP should be held financially accountable for the role they are playing in driving extreme weather. 

Nearly half — 45 per cent — believe these firms should pay compensation to the public for loss of income or livelihoods as well as personal payments to anyone injured, traumatised or even bereaved by climate-induced weather disasters. 

Flooded People UK co-founder Heather Shepherd MBE said: “Flooding is getting worse, more and more homes are being affected by climate change.  

“It shouldn’t be ordinary people having to foot the bill for the devastation caused by flooding — water companies, oil and gas giants and developers are some of those who need to take responsibility and work together to unlock the bolder approach alongside the government.” 

Uplift deputy director Robert Palmer added: “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.” 

Recent analysis by the Climate Change Committee also shows that climate change is costing the British economy up to £60bn a year, a figure that could rise to £260bn annually in less than 25 years.  

This summer’s record-breaking extreme heat has caused an estimated 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales. 

More than six million properties across England are meanwhile currently at risk of flooding, but experts say this could rise to eight million — a quarter of all homes — in just under 25 years. 

Greenpeace political campaigner Rudy Schulkind said: “Companies like Shell and BP have banked eye-watering sums of money while driving the greatest crisis of our lifetimes — a crisis that’s already causing unimaginable suffering.  

“Making polluters pay isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also smart politics. Burnham should take note.” 

A Momentum spokesperson said: “We’re on the brink of a climate catastrophe. Over 40 MPs supported a Bill last year to Make Polluters Pay.  

“We need urgent action to tackle this crisis, funded by those responsible for climate vandalism.” 

The Filipino group’s lives were devastated by the so-called Super Typhoon Odette in 2021, which was made more likely by climate change.