The Supreme Court this week denied an attempt by 19 Republican attorneys general to block blue state-led climate damages lawsuits against major oil companies. Those lawsuits, led by one filed by California in 2023 against Exxon Mobil, Chevron, the American Petroleum Institute, and other companies, can now proceed.
Technically, the Court denied a “motion to file a bill of complaint” by the red states, led by Alabama. Those states claimed that the California-led coalition “seek to impos[e] ruinous liability and coercive remedies on energy companies,” which, adjectives aside, yes. For breaking the climate and lying about it for decades, you see.
Dissenting from the decision were — you’ll never guess — Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. The decision to let the lawsuits move ahead follows on a similar ruling in January, when SCOTUS denied oil company attempts to block a lawsuit filed by the city of Honolulu.
“Oil and gas companies have privately known the truth for decades — that the burning of fossil fuels leads to climate change — but have fed us lies and mistruths to further their record-breaking profits at the expense of our environment. Enough is enough,” said California attorney general Rob Bonta upon filing his state’s suit in 2023. “From extreme heat to drought and water shortages, the climate crisis they have caused is undeniable. It is time they pay to abate the harm they have caused.”
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