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.

www.nytimes.com

US Supreme Court clears way for climate lawsuits against Big Oil

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