Oil Companies Ask Supreme Court to Halt Climate Lawsuits
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday from oil companies seeking to halt climate change lawsuits. Over two dozen cases accuse the industry of deception and seek billions in damages for extreme weather costs.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday from oil companies that could determine the fate of more than two dozen lawsuits accusing the industry of deceiving the public about climate change. These claims seek potentially billions of dollars in damages to help cover costs imposed by climate-related extreme weather events.
The questions before the court did not focus on the merits of these claims but rather on technical legal matters regarding whether they should proceed at all. The oil companies are asking the Supreme Court to rule that federal law preempts state and local governments from bringing such claims.
The case being argued was originally filed in 2018 by the city and county of Boulder against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy in Colorado state court. While this case and dozens like it have survived multiple appeals in state and federal courts, the oil companies are requesting the Supreme Court declare that federal law supersedes state and local governments' ability to pursue these claims.
An unfavorable ruling for the plaintiffs could potentially block numerous similar climate lawsuits currently underway across the United States.