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.
More context
Timeline
- 1. 2018: Boulder County and City of Boulder file suit against oil companies.
- 2. 2020: The City of Charleston filed a similar complaint (later dismissed).
- 3. A state high court allowed the Boulder litigation to proceed, prompting appeals.
- 4. Feb. 23: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear appeals from ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy.
- 5. October (next term): The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments.
Why it matters
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.
Sources
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