California sued five major oil corporations and the largest oil and gas lobby in the U.S., alleging they have misrepresented risks associated with fossil fuels, thereby contributing to climate change-related damages.
The lawsuit, filed Friday with the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Francisco claims actions of the companies resulted in significant financial damages, potentially amounting to tens of billions of dollars.
The defendants include BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Shell and their trade group American Petroleum Institute (API). California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta accused them of causing or contributing to various climate-related damages across California, including the alleged degradation of natural resources.
The American Petroleum Institute and one of the oil companies implicated in the lawsuit claim to have actively worked to minimize their environmental footprint, according to a report from The Epoch Times.
They added that legal courts are not the appropriate place for deliberating climate policy matters.
The lawsuit alleges defendants have been aware of the detrimental effects of climate change for decades.
California accused the big oil defendants of launching a disinformation campaign since the 1970s instead of informing the public and governmental bodies.
This alleged campaign aimed to challenge growing scientific consensus on climate change and instill doubt in the public regarding the consequences of fossil fuel consumption, according to the report.
Bonta further claims fossil fuel companies wanted to delay the shift toward a more carbon-conscious future, all in the interest of safeguarding profits.
“California is suing Big Oil for lying about climate change,” stated California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“We’re taking five major oil companies to court for wreaking havoc on our planet and lying to people about the dangers of fossil fuels,” Newsom added. “It’s time they pay their fair share.”
The lawsuit asked the court to compell oil companies to stop any acts that may be harming the environment, award damages as determined by the court and establish a special fund to mitigate alleged ongoing public nuisances caused by them in California.
A representative from the American Petroleum Institute defended the industry’s efforts to provide affordable energy to consumers while simultaneously working to reduce its environmental impact.
“This ongoing, coordinated campaign to wage meritless, politicized lawsuits against a foundational American industry and its workers is nothing more than a distraction from important national conversations and an enormous waste of California taxpayer resources,” API General Counsel Ryan Meyers said.
A Shell spokesperson expressed agreement on the urgency of addressing climate change but emphasized that the courtroom is not the right place for such discussions.
“Addressing climate change requires a collaborative, society-wide approach. We do not believe the courtroom is the right venue to address climate change, but that smart policy from government and action from all sectors is the appropriate way to reach solutions and drive progress.”
This lawsuit is one of many against the fossil fuel industry in the U.S., with claims that the industry is accountable for climate-related damages, including extreme weather events but the movement is facing increasing pushback.
More than 1,600 scientists and professionals recently signed a declaration stating there is “no climate emergency.” They claim political motivations and flawed models overshadow genuine scientific understanding.
Nobel Prize laureate John Clauser, one of the signatories, highlighted issues with current climate models, particularly their omission of cloud dynamics.
Concerns about CO2 and global warming have been exaggerated by certain media outlets and politicians, he said.
Clauser criticized U.S. initiatives to reduce CO2 and methane, suggesting the efforts are misdirected and could be better utilized for humanitarian causes.
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