The Supreme Court rejected an attempt to invalidate a Hawaii lawsuit that held the fossil fuel industry responsible for a decades-long misinformation campaign.
Monday's ruling allows a high-profile lawsuit brought by Honolulu officials to move forward to trial. This is a procedural victory over a spate of climate change liability lawsuits brought against oil and gas companies in recent years.
In March 2020, the City and County of Honolulu and the Honolulu Water Commission sued the oil company for violating state laws, including causing a public nuisance and failing to warn the public about the risks posed by its products.
Defendants Sunoco and Shell, along with 15 other energy companies, are seeking to move the case to federal court, arguing that state courts cannot rule on interstate pollution.
A state court in October 2023 rejected the oil company's efforts, saying the case could move forward because it focuses on alleged deception in marketing and public statements. Physical effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Supreme Court declined Monday to consider whether the lawsuit should be stayed.
“This landmark decision upholds our right to enforce Hawaii's laws in Hawaii courts and protects Hawaii's taxpayers and communities from the enormous costs and impacts of the climate crisis caused by defendants' illegal actions.” It's about ensuring that society is protected,” said Ben Sullivan, Executive Director and Chief Resilience Officer. The city and county of Honolulu's Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience said in a statement.
Ryan Myers, a spokesman for the American Petroleum Institute, the country's largest oil and gas lobby, said in a statement that the industry is “disappointed” by the Supreme Court's decision.
“The ongoing, coordinated campaign to file pointless lawsuits against companies that provide affordable, reliable, and clean energy is distracting from these important issues and costing taxpayers money. “It's just a waste of resources,” he said.
Last year, fossil fuel allies launched an unprecedented media blitz urging the Supreme Court to protect oil companies from the Honolulu lawsuit. Some of the groups behind this campaign have ties to Leonard Leo, the architect of the right-wing takeover of the Supreme Court who helped select Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominees.
Michael Gerrard, a professor at Columbia University's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, said: “The fact that Leonard Leo thought this case merited a media salvo shows how important this case was to the oil companies.'' ” “It's good to know that these blitzes don't always work.”
Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from the case. The decision was not explained in court documents, but Alito said he owns the stock that is the subject of the climate change liability lawsuit. Financial disclosure documents.
Eleven state attorneys general and dozens of local governments have filed similar challenges against Big Oil companies, seeking to hold them accountable for allegedly misleading the public about the role of petroleum products in the climate crisis. Monday's ruling marks the fourth time since 2023 that the Supreme Court has declined to consider an appeal by the fossil fuel industry aimed at blocking a lawsuit, potentially costing companies billions of dollars.
The Supreme Court asked Biden officials in June to consider the case and provide an opinion on the controversy. in filing The case was submitted to the High Court in December, but the government asked the High Court to dismiss the appeal.
So far, no climate change liability case has gone to trial. But Monday's decision moves one step closer to that prospect, which is “the fossil fuel industry's worst nightmare,” said Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity, a nonprofit that tracks and supports lawsuits.
“The people of Honolulu and communities across the country deserve their day in court to hold these companies accountable,” he said.
