Supreme Court to Hear Oil Firms' Climate Appeals
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Washington — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear appeals from ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy seeking to block state-court climate lawsuits brought by Boulder and other jurisdictions. The companies asked the court to rule that state law cannot be used to impose nationwide costs for greenhouse gas emissions, arguing federal courts should decide issues tied to national energy policy. Lower state courts allowed the litigation to proceed, and the cases seek unspecified monetary damages for climate-related costs. The court — with a conservative majority — is expected to hear arguments next October. Based on 6 articles and supporting research.
Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- 2018: Boulder County and City of Boulder file suit against oil companies.
- 2020: The City of Charleston filed a similar complaint (later dismissed).
- A state high court allowed the Boulder litigation to proceed, prompting appeals.
- Feb. 23: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear appeals from ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy.
- October (next term): The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments.
Why This Matters to You
This case could set a precedent for how climate-related costs are handled. If the Supreme Court sides with the oil companies, it could limit states' ability to sue for damages related to climate change. This might affect your community's ability to recover costs from climate-related disasters.
The Bottom Line
The Supreme Court's decision could reshape the landscape of climate litigation. Keep an eye on the court's arguments in October. If you're concerned about climate change, consider contacting your local representatives about this issue. Worth forwarding if you know someone who cares about environmental policy.
- Articles Published:
- 6
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
- 1
- Neutral:
- 5
- Distribution:
- Left 17%, Center 83%, Right 0%
If the Supreme Court rules for the companies, major oil and gas producers such as ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy would avoid state-court liability and potential damages, preserving their legal and financial positions and limiting exposure to state-level climate claims.
If the Supreme Court limits or blocks state-court claims, municipalities and local governments seeking compensation for climate-related infrastructure and recovery costs could lose a key legal avenue to seek damages, increasing fiscal pressures on local budgets.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
Supreme Court to decide on throwing out dozens of climate change lawsuits
Los Angeles TimesFrom Center
Supreme Court to Hear Oil Firms' Climate Appeals
WTOP CBS News The Orange County Register Market Screener Post and CourierFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
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