US Supreme Court clears way for climate lawsuits against Big Oil

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge from Republican-led states that sought to block lawsuits holding fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change.

Austyn Gaffney reports for The New York Times.

In short:

• The court’s decision allows lawsuits from Democratic-led states — such as California, Connecticut, and Minnesota — to move forward against oil giants like Exxon Mobil and BP for allegedly misleading the public about climate change.
• Nineteen Republican attorneys general attempted to shut down these cases, arguing they could disrupt interstate commerce, but the Supreme Court refused to intervene.
• The ruling is the latest signal that courts are willing to let states hold fossil fuel companies financially responsible for their greenhouse gas emissions.

Key quote:

“This was never anything more than an attempt to run interference, help the defendants in our cases avoid accountability, and play politics with the Constitution.”

— Keith Ellison, Minnesota attorney general

Why this matters:

This decision opens the door for states to press forward with lawsuits that could force oil companies to pay for climate damages, potentially setting a precedent for holding polluters accountable.

Read more: ExxonMobil, LyondellBassel and Chevron among Houston’s top polluters.