Key Facts

• Justice Alito recused himself from the case after initially deciding to participate.
• The lawsuit was filed by Boulder County and other Colorado local governments against big energy companies including ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy.
• The local governments want compensation for damage caused by floods, droughts, wildfires, and other climate-related problems.
• The energy companies argue that federal law controls climate issues, so state lawsuits should not move forward.
• More than two dozen states and local governments have filed similar climate damage lawsuits.
• Alito previously recused himself from a related part of the case due to owning stock in one of the companies involved.
• With Alito stepping aside, eight justices will hear the case, which might lead to a tie, leaving lower court decisions in place.
• The case focuses on whether federal law overrides state claims, not on whether fossil fuels caused climate change.