What's the story?
- California has filed a lawsuit in the state Superior Court in San Francisco against several of the world's largest oil multinationals for deceitful practices.
- The civil suit claims that these companies, including BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, and Shell, have misled the public about the risks of fossil fuels.
What is in the lawsuit?
- The 135-page complaint argues that the oil companies have known about the planet-destroying impacts of fossil fuels since at least the 1960s, and that they are complicit in misleading the public and preventing governments from responding to the reality.
- The suit asserts that the companies staged a disinformation campaign to discredit the scientific consensus and sow reasonable doubt. The state alleges that this amounts to unlawful business practices.
- The lawsuit also seeks the creation of a fund financed by the companies to pay for recovery costs after climate-driven natural disasters like storms and fires.
What supporters are saying
"The fifth-largest economy on earth is suing the five biggest oil companies for their climate lies. This is a big big deal."
"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. California taxpayers shouldn't have to foot the bill for billions of dollars in damages — wildfires wiping out entire communities, toxic smoke clogging our air, deadly heat waves, record-breaking droughts parching our wells."
- Kathy Mulvey from the Union of Concerned Scientists said:
"California's suit adds to the growing momentum to hold Big Oil accountable for its decades of deception, and secure access to justice for people and communities suffering from fossil-fueled extreme weather and slow onset disasters such as sea level rise."
- Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity, said:
"California's decision to take Big Oil companies to court is a watershed moment in the rapidly expanding legal fight to hold major polluters accountable for decades of climate lies...Californians have been living in a climate emergency caused by the fossil fuel industry, and now the state is taking decisive action to make those polluters pay."
- David Weiskopf from NextGen Policy said:
"This is a big deal. The oil industry is the most profitable enterprise in human history, and their profits have come at the expense of every person and other living thing on our planet."
What opponents are saying
- The American Petroleum Institute, an industry group named in the lawsuit, criticized the state's move, arguing that climate policy should be debated in Congress and not settled in court. Senior Vice President Ryan Meyers said:
"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."
"Addressing climate change requires a collaborative, society-wide approach. We agree that action is needed now on climate change, and we fully support the need for society to transition to a lower-carbon future."
Do you support California's case?
—Emma Kansiz
(Photo Credit: Canva)
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It's clear the oil companies aren't going to act to stop climate change, and the federal government is too deep in the pockets of Big Oil to do much either.
It will be up to activists, young people, and local governments to lead this fight. I'm glad California is taking this action.
I agree with California in this matter! The answer from the Oil Industry is let Congress deal with this, but as long as members of Congress aree allowed to get "GIFTS" from lobbyists, and Citizens United allows Corporations to give big amounts of Money to Political Campaigns, Congress won't do anything to stop the damage caused by oil and gas use and in fracking to get to oil deposits. These big oil multinationals want their big profits more than they want to support life on this planet! This industry believes it can buy the votes of OUR ELECTED people in Congress, & The Republican Party has shown that's how they work! Their pushing the extreme thinking of evangelicals who gave them a lot of money! All members of Congress must PROVE their knowledge of our Constitution prior to taking office. Maybe then they wouldn't violate it so often, breaking their Oath of Office!
Two years ago certain parties, including some lawmakers, in California were sent copies of U.S. Patent 8,674,373 which when implemented stops carbon Dioxide emissions. Makes fossil fuel harmless to the ozone. If the better nousetrap doesn't fit the agenda it's always ignored.
I like your thinking California!
I have my doubts to the outcome. But, we should not only go after the oil companies but also the Big 3 Automakers. People forget GM was a big factor in eliminating trolley cars. Selling cities to purchase buses, GM busses. Also pushing for our "Freeways". Having congress pass a fuel tax to build highways. Instead of toll roads. Between major oil companies and auto industry climate change will never stop. Those entities alone place more money in congress members campaign funds than any voter. Don't let them fool you that they are working towards renewables. They are more concerned with "PROFIT", not climate change effects.
Abuse of courts
Hope many states follow CA. lead.
I applaud California for the steps they have taken. The oil companies need to be held to account and help pay for the havoc they have brought on the world. Had they been upfront back in the '50's it is possible that a world effort could have been mounted to find better solutions to energy needs. Their profits need to be brought to bare at making right what they placed upon us.
We have known since 1974 that the oil companies were lying to us, damaging the environment, and putting profit above human lives. It is about time SOMEONE called them to account! Good for CA! (Where was the Congress in this? Oh yeah, voting in mroe oil subsidies!)
Only in Cali!!! It's rediculous. The Governor should be embracing Fossil.Fuels because he is going to need them when his grid fails. And it will fail completely before long.
Feel good political motivation by CA officials, this will be tossed out of Court ultimately once the case gets to the adult judges.
this is an important step towards accountabilty.
I SO support this lawsuit against the big oil conpanies in California that have been raking in the profits for years, enriching their CEOs and shareholders while raising our prices with mumbled excuses about inflation and distribution. These are the companies that have done the research, and found out that oil is indeed canceer causing and indeed the major cause of Global Warming! This smoke I'm trying to avoid today is all part of the prob lem they are exacerbating while profiting! It has to end!
Absolutely! We now have definitive evidence they intentionally lied to we the people.
Big oil needs curbing!
It's a bout time we brought the fight directly to big polluters.
more states should follow California's lead
I have been against off shore drilling ever since they began. It is was a danger back in the day and still is as we all well know. I'm backing California on this one.
The oil companies should reimburse all citizens for the losses we have suffered due to the climate crises. BP should have paid much more than they did for the damage they caused to the Gulf of Mexico from the Deep Water Horizon.
I support this. Too bad I live in PA, or I would want to add my name to the lawsuit.
Companies like to disguise the true cost of their product, whether it is direct harm from the product such as with cigarettes, or the cost of disposal of packaging, or harm to the enviroment from carbon pollutants. We no longer have the luxury to ignore these costs in an increasingly crowded and polluted and trash-ridden world.
The world can't run on wind and solar. Neither is considered sustainable sources of energy and both need fossil fuels for backup. Time to get real and learn the facts.
What is it going to take to get the facts convinced?
We need to fight climate change and we made progress in Court in Montana