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California has filed a lawsuit against major oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP, accusing them of deceiving the public about the destructive effects of burning fossil fuels on the planet.
The civil lawsuit claims that oil and gas executives were aware of the catastrophic consequences of relying on fossil fuels but suppressed this information by spreading disinformation.
According to the lawsuit, this deception has led to delayed action on global warming, resulting in severe damage, such as droughts, wildfires, and storms, in California, costing billions of dollars.
The lawsuit, filed by California’s attorney-general in San Francisco, seeks damages from the oil industry to cover climate change costs and prevent further pollution. It also names ConocoPhillips, Chevron, and the American Petroleum Institute as defendants.
This legal action follows the recent passing of a state law that requires major polluters to disclose their carbon emissions for the first time.
“For more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us – covering up the fact that they’ve long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “California taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill. California is taking action to hold big polluters accountable.”
California’s lawsuit adds to the growing number of climate litigation cases filed by US states and municipalities against the oil and gas industry, seeking damages to cover climate-related costs.
Internationally, the number of climate-related court cases has doubled between 2017 and 2023, with the majority filed in the US.
Earlier this year, youth climate activists won a landmark case in Montana recognizing their right to a clean environment.
However, these climate lawsuits have been criticized by some Republican politicians, who argue that they harm the industry and cost jobs.
The American Petroleum Institute dismissed the California lawsuit as part of a political campaign and stated that climate policy should be debated and decided by Congress, not the court system.
Shell acknowledged the need for action on climate change but stated that the courtroom is not the appropriate venue to address the issue, advocating for smart policy and collaboration.
Experts claim that California’s lawsuit highlights the financial responsibility of the fossil fuel industry towards climate victims.
A recent analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists found that a significant portion of forest fire damage in the western US and parts of Canada can be attributed to carbon emissions from fossil fuel and cement production.
Kathy Mulvey, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, emphasized the need for oil companies to take responsibility for the costs imposed by the climate crisis.
Other lawsuits have also been filed against Chevron and Exxon, including a recent case by Maui County, which experienced devastating wildfires earlier this summer.
California’s legal complaint alleges that oil industry scientists have known since the 1950s about the climate impacts of burning fossil fuels and the limited time frame for action by governments.
In 2019, ExxonMobil won a separate legal case brought by New York State over alleged misstatements about climate change risks.
Chevron argued that climate change requires a global response rather than individual lawsuits and claimed that local courts in California have no constructive role in shaping global energy policy.
Additional reporting by Attracta Mooney
Climate Capital
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