• 3 minutes e-car sales collapse
  • 6 minutes America Is Exceptional in Its Political Divide
  • 11 minutes Perovskites, a ‘dirt cheap’ alternative to silicon, just got a lot more efficient
  • 5 mins GREEN NEW DEAL = BLIZZARD OF LIES
  • 1 min How Far Have We Really Gotten With Alternative Energy
  • 2 hours If hydrogen is the answer, you're asking the wrong question
  • 3 days Oil Stocks, Market Direction, Bitcoin, Minerals, Gold, Silver - Technical Trading <--- Chris Vermeulen & Gareth Soloway weigh in
  • 5 days The European Union is exceptional in its political divide. Examples are apparent in Hungary, Slovakia, Sweden, Netherlands, Belarus, Ireland, etc.
  • 15 hours Biden's $2 trillion Plan for Insfrastructure and Jobs
  • 4 days "What’s In Store For Europe In 2023?" By the CIA (aka RFE/RL as a ruse to deceive readers)

Big Oil Loses Legal Climate Fight In California

Big Oil companies have become vulnerable to lawsuits from California cities and counties for their role in climate change after they lost two crucial lawsuits at the state court of appeals.

The Associated Press reports that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of state courts as proper places for climate change lawsuits against energy companies, rejecting the arguments of five Big Oil majors, including Exxon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, and Shell.

There are many cities and counties in California itching to sue Big Oil for its role in climate change, with allegations generally revolving around the argument that Big Oil knew their products were harmful for the environment but they marketed them as safe.

“It is time for these companies to pay their fair share,” the AP quoted San Francisco’s Attorney General, Dennis Herrera, as commenting on the ruling. “They should not be able to stick taxpayers with the bill for the damage they knew they were causing. We will continue to hold these companies accountable for their decades-long campaign of public deception about climate change and its consequences.”

San Francisco is among those eager to sue Big Oil for its role in climate change. In fact, the city, along with another Californian town, Oakland, sued five Big Oil majors alleging a conspiracy to suppress climate change facts. The plaintiffs lost that case at a district court but now the appeals court decision could open the door to what could become a wave of lawsuits against supermajors and smaller energy companies.

However, the AP notes, the rulings may not get to a jury at all. First, they would be reviewed by a larger panel at the 9th Circuit Court and then by the Supreme Court. If the pass these tests, then Big Oil majors would find themselves in some serious legal pickle.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:



Join the discussion | Back to homepage



Leave a comment
  • Maxander on May 27 2020 said:
    That means US oil production will further come down ahead.
    Recent shale oil production cut, the current environmental restriction on big oil & last year bill passed by White House to ban oil drilling Atlantic, Pacific waters, Wild life areas, Gulf waters will take US oil production to 7-8 mn bpd by 2021.

Leave a comment

EXXON Mobil -0.35
Open57.81 Trading Vol.6.96M Previous Vol.241.7B
BUY 57.15
Sell 57.00
Oilprice - The No. 1 Source for Oil & Energy News