Summary
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case about whether local governments can hold fossil fuel companies responsible for damage related to climate change. This case involves the City of Boulder and Boulder County suing oil companies Suncor and ExxonMobil. The case could impact how similar lawsuits across the country are handled.
Key Facts
- The Supreme Court will review a Colorado court decision that allowed a climate change lawsuit to proceed against Suncor and ExxonMobil.
- Boulder and Boulder County argue they face rising costs due to climate change, which they believe oil companies should pay.
- The oil companies argue that federal law protects them from state-level lawsuits related to climate damages.
- The outcome of this case could affect similar lawsuits across the United States, involving billions of dollars in potential damages.
- The case began in 2018 when Boulder County and others sued the oil companies, claiming they sold harmful fossil fuels.
- Other related climate cases are also being considered by the Supreme Court, showing a wider legal effort against fossil fuel companies.
- President Trump’s administration has urged the Supreme Court to hear this case, despite not being directly involved.
