The US Supreme Court has commenced its new nine-month term with oral arguments in a pivotal case where major oil corporations are attempting to derail litigation aimed at holding them responsible for the climate crisis.
In the matter of Suncor Energy versus the County Commissioners of Boulder County, local authorities in Boulder, Colorado, have filed a suit in state court. The complaint asks energy giants ExxonMobil and the Canadian-based Suncor Energy to reimburse a share of the expenses that climate change has imposed on local taxpayers.
However, the defendants are contending that federal statute preempts state courts from adjudicating Boulder’s climate-related lawsuit. If successful, the companies’ legal strategy could establish a significant barrier against similar accountability efforts at the state level.
Why are local taxpayers footing the bill for climate impacts when corporations are the ones profiting from fossil fuels? The logic here is backwards.
Does anyone else think this is just a delaying tactic? Even if they lose, the legal fees alone will drain local resources significantly.
Wow, the Supreme Court is starting its term with this? I never thought major energy companies would try to preempt state laws like this.
This feels like a desperate last stand by Big Oil to dodge accountability. It is about time they paid for the damage they caused.