deception
Credit: Eelco Böhtlingk/Unsplash
A Pennsylvania county takes on the fossil fuel giants over climate damages
Bucks County, Pennsylvania, has filed a lawsuit against major oil and gas companies, accusing them of deceptive practices that exacerbated climate change.
In short:
- Bucks County's lawsuit alleges that fossil fuel companies misled the public about the dangers of their products, contributing to climate change.
- The county is seeking financial compensation for the damage caused by extreme weather events, including severe flooding and storm surges.
- A 2023 study estimated Bucks County might need to spend up to $955 million on climate adaptation for infrastructure by 2040.
Key quote:
“They are desperate to not ever go to trial. That’s the thing they are afraid of.”
— Richard Wiles, the president of the Center for Climate Integrity
Why this matters:
In the latter half of the 20th century, research funded by fossil fuel companies confirmed that carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels was warming the planet. However, instead of acting on these findings to mitigate the impact, some companies embarked on campaigns to sow doubt about climate science and its implications. These efforts included funding scientific research aimed at contradicting the consensus on climate change, creating and supporting organizations that promoted skepticism about global warming, and lobbying against environmental regulation.
Ten years after "ClimateGate," evidence be damned: Climate denial is alive and well.
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Newsletter
The illusion of plastic recycling: a 40 year deception
A recent report reveals a decades-long campaign by the plastics industry falsely promoting the feasibility of plastic recycling.
In short:
- Despite knowing its impracticality, the plastics industry has promoted recycling as a viable solution to plastic waste for more than 40 years.
- The U.S. recycling rate for plastics remains below 10%, with most plastic waste ending up in landfills or incinerators.
- The industry's tactics mirror those used by Big Oil to downplay the environmental impact of their products.
Key quote:
"The oil industry’s lies are at the heart of the two most catastrophic pollution crises in human history."
— Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity.
Why this matters:
This revelation is essential for understanding the true impact of plastic waste on the environment and public health. It highlights the need for genuine solutions to plastic pollution and more responsible corporate practices.
Recycling plastics “extremely problematic” due to toxic chemical additives.
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Oil firms accused of scare tactics after claiming climate lawsuits ‘a threat to US’
Attorneys for BP, Exxon and Shell claim city of Baltimore’s case over ‘deception and failure to warn’ could kill offshore drilling.
Bill McKibben: Trust is hard to find at the U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow
Young activists are right to doubt the pledges of governments, financial firms, and the fossil-fuel industry.
www.post-gazette.com
Chesapeake agrees to settle natural gas royalty dispute in Pennsylvania
Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the settlement ends deceptive business practices but is not “the full victory that landowners deserve.”
www.startribune.com
Minnesota files climate change lawsuit against oil companies including Koch, Exxon Mobil
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday sued Exxon Mobil Corp., Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute, saying they have long deceived consumers over the effects of climate change.
newrepublic.com
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