California has filed a lawsuit against major oil companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp, Shell PLC, and Chevron Corp, accusing them of downplaying the risks associated with fossil fuels. The lawsuit alleges that their actions have caused significant damage amounting to tens of billions of dollars and accuses them of deceiving the public. The American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade group, is also named as a defendant in the case. California is seeking the establishment of an abatement fund to cover future damages caused by climate-related disasters in the state.
This legal action is part of a larger trend of lawsuits filed against the fossil fuel industry by states and municipalities across the United States. These lawsuits broadly claim that the industry is responsible for harms caused by climate impacts, including extreme weather events. In response to these lawsuits, the American Petroleum Institute and oil companies have argued that policies addressing climate change should be determined by the federal executive branch and Congress, rather than through individual court cases.
RushHourDaily reached out to California’s secretary of state, Chevron, BP, Shell, ConocoPhillips, and the American Petroleum Institute for comment, but they did not immediately respond. Exxon Mobil could also not be reached for comment.
The article was reported by Kanjyik Ghosh in Bangalore, with additional reporting by Lavanya Ahire. The editing was done by Mark Potter.
The Thomson RushHourDaily Trust Principles apply to this article.
