politics
Environmental groups urge high court to keep costly climate change lawsuits alive
The Supreme Court will hear a major case this fall that could shut down costly lawsuits against oil companies over their alleged role in global climate change, and both environmental groups and Democratic politicians have urged the justices to keep those lawsuits alive.
TL;DR
- The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County case on October 5th.
- The case could determine whether climate change lawsuits against oil companies can proceed or if they are barred by federal law.
- Environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Our Children’s Trust argue that harms are attributable to emissions and that the cases should be allowed to proceed.
- A coalition of Democrat-led states, led by Colorado and California, supports Boulder County, arguing that state climate laws are not preempted by federal law.
- Former EPA officials also support Boulder County, asserting that the Clean Air Act allows for state regulation of emissions.
- The Justice Department, oil companies, and conservative groups have asked the court to shut down these lawsuits.