The state of California has filed a lawsuit against several major oil companies, accusing them of causing significant damages and deceiving the public about the risks of fossil fuels. The civil case, filed in superior court in San Francisco, seeks the creation of an abatement fund to pay for future damages caused by climate-related disasters in the state. The companies targeted in the lawsuit are Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, and Chevron, along with the American Petroleum Institute. This lawsuit is considered one of the most significant legal challenges faced by the fossil fuel industry.
California, being the most populous state and a major producer of oil and gas, is particularly affected by climate change. The state’s attorney general’s office has a history of bringing landmark cases that set precedents for other states. The lawsuit claims that the oil companies intentionally downplayed the risks of fossil fuels since the 1950s and continued to mislead the public about their commitment to reducing emissions. The lawsuit also alleges that the companies violated false-advertising and product-liability laws, creating a public nuisance and destroying natural resources.
The lawsuit further asserts that the oil companies engaged in “greenwashing” by promoting certain fuels as environmentally friendly, while walking back their commitments to emission reductions. It highlights the growing damage inflicted on California due to climate change, including heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms, flooding, and biodiversity loss. California’s Governor, Gavin Newsom, expressed outrage at the deception by saying, “These folks had this information and lied to us, and we could have staved off some of the most significant consequences.”
The fossil fuel industry is facing a wave of climate lawsuits across states and cities seeking damages. Earlier attempts by the oil companies to move the cases from state to federal court were rejected by the Supreme Court. The California lawsuit does not bring claims under the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, but instead seeks the creation of a fund to pay for recovery efforts from climate-related disasters. The state argues that it has already spent tens of billions of dollars on climate disasters and expects costs to rise significantly in the future. A similar fund was established in a previous case involving lead paint manufacturers in California.
