July 2017
These California lawsuits jumpstarted climate cost recovery suits in the United States. Calling out 36 of the world’s largest oil companies, the three complaints point to impacts such as more frequent flooding, beach erosion and the possibility of water inundating roads, sewage treatment plants and other real estate — including an international airport.
“About 30 percent of our city will be impacted by coastal flooding,” said Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina. “In the future, we'll lose 90 percent of our Seacoast Drive. Two elementary schools would be impacted, and just the cost of moving a sewer line inland will cost us $10 million soon.”
- News: The Washington Post • Mercury News • The Guardian
- Analysis: California Communities, Big Oil Go to Court Over Future of Climate Lawsuits (2020) • Big Oil Loses Appeals in California Climate Lawsuits (2020) • Big Oil loses again: California climate lawsuits can proceed in state court (2020) • Exxon can’t depose California communities suing them, Texas Court of Appeals rules (2020) • Appeals Court denies Big Oil’s request for rehearing in California climate lawsuits (2020) • Texas Supreme Court Rejects Exxon’s Attempt to Intimidate California Communities Seeking Climate Accountability (2022) • Ninth Circuit Deals Latest Blow to Big Oil, Ruling that California Climate Lawsuits Belong in State Court (2022)