In a groundbreaking move, the state of California has launched a lawsuit against some of the biggest oil and gas companies in the world. They are being accused of deceiving the public about the dangers of fossil fuels, which have been linked to climate change-related storms and devastating wildfires. The lawsuit, filed in state Superior Court in San Francisco, not only seeks accountability from Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and BP, but also the creation of a fund to finance recovery efforts after these catastrophic events, which have caused billions of dollars in damages. Governor Gavin Newsom supports the lawsuit and believes that these companies should be held responsible.
Governor Newsom stated, “For over half a century, Big Oil has been concealing the truth about the detrimental effects of their fossil fuel production on our planet. Californians should not be burdened with the cost of damages caused by wildfires, toxic smoke, heatwaves, and droughts. We demand justice.” However, the American Petroleum Institute, along with other industry representatives named in the lawsuit, argue that climate policy should be debated in Congress rather than the courtroom.
Ryan Meyers, the Senior Vice President of the American Petroleum Institute, stated, “These baseless lawsuits only serve as distractions from important national conversations and a waste of California’s resources.” Shell, another company included in the lawsuit, believes that the courtroom is not the proper venue to address issues related to global warming. California’s legal action follows similar lawsuits filed by states and municipalities in recent years.
The 135-page complaint argues that these companies have been aware since the 1960s that burning fossil fuels would contribute to global warming and climate change. However, they downplayed this impending danger in public statements and marketing campaigns. The lawsuit reveals that the companies’ own scientists knew as early as the 1950s that the climate impacts would be catastrophic, and that there was only a limited window of time to respond. Instead, the companies engaged in a disinformation campaign, starting as early as the 1970s, to challenge the growing scientific consensus on climate change and the associated risks.
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