In a bold move, the state of California has thrown down the gauntlet in a groundbreaking lawsuit against major oil and gas giants. The lawsuit accuses these energy behemoths of systematically deceiving the public about the true perils of fossil fuels, which are increasingly implicated in climate change-related disasters such as storms and wildfires that have wreaked havoc and cost billions in damages.
This civil lawsuit, filed in the state Superior Court in San Francisco, also takes an unprecedented step by seeking to establish a fund. This fund, to be financed by the oil companies themselves, would be dedicated to covering the costs of recovery efforts following catastrophic storms and fires. California‘s Governor, Gavin Newsom, minced no words, asserting that these corporate giants – Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and BP – must be held accountable for their actions.
Governor Newsom’s sentiments are clear: “For more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us — covering up the fact that they’ve long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet.” He went on to emphasize that it’s time for the oil industry to shoulder the financial burden of the destruction caused by wildfires, toxic smoke, heatwaves, and droughts.
Unsurprisingly, the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group embroiled in the lawsuit, countered that climate policy should be debated in Congress rather than in court. They characterized the legal action as a political maneuver that wastes taxpayer resources.
Shell, another defendant in the lawsuit, echoed the sentiment that the courtroom isn’t the right venue to address global warming, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach to tackle climate change.
California’s lawsuit is not an isolated event but rather joins a growing trend of legal actions filed by states and municipalities in recent years. Kathy Mulvey of the Union of Concerned Scientists praised California’s initiative, stating that it adds momentum to the efforts to hold Big Oil accountable for their deception and to secure justice for those affected by climate-related disasters.
The heart of the 135-page complaint lies in the assertion that these oil companies possessed knowledge of the environmental consequences of fossil fuel combustion as far back as the 1960s. However, they opted to downplay these risks in public statements and marketing campaigns. Shockingly, it is claimed that their own scientists had insight into the catastrophic impacts as early as the 1950s, warning that there was a limited timeframe for governments and communities to respond. Instead, the lawsuit alleges that these companies initiated a disinformation campaign in the 1970s to undermine the growing scientific consensus on climate change.
The lawsuit encompasses a spectrum of allegations, including the role of these companies in creating or exacerbating climate change in California, false advertising, damage to natural resources, and deceitful business practices related to climate change.
California’s Attorney General, Rob Bonta, minced no words in his condemnation of the oil giants, stating that they had “fed us lies and mistruths to further their record-breaking profits at the expense of our environment.”
This lawsuit marks a turning point in the fight against major polluters, with Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity, dubbing it a “watershed moment.” He emphasized that Californians have endured a climate crisis precipitated by the fossil fuel industry for too long, and now the state is taking resolute action to make these polluters pay.
California, a Democratic stronghold, has a rich environmental history and is actively pushing for clean energy solutions to reduce emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Despite its historical ties to the oil industry, the state has taken drastic measures, such as banning the sale of most new gas-powered cars by 2035.
However, tensions have arisen between environmentalists and the state government over issues like water management, permits for oil and gas wells, and the utilization of water from swollen rivers. Governor Newsom’s change in stance regarding the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant also drew criticism from environmental groups. Nonetheless, California’s lawsuit against Big Oil reaffirms the state’s commitment to combating climate change and holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
