News & Analysis
September 18, 2023
California filed a major climate lawsuit against Exxon, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, and the American Petroleum Institute on Friday, making it the eighth state and largest economy to sue fossil fuel giants for their decades of climate deception.
“Oil and gas companies have privately known the truth for decades — that the burning of fossil fuels leads to climate change — but have fed us lies and mistruths to further their record-breaking profits at the expense of our environment,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said.
From increasingly severe wildfire seasons to extreme heat and droughts, California communities have suffered worsening climate conditions for years. This lawsuit can help protect residents who are experiencing the hardships of the climate crisis first-hand by making sure that polluters, not communities, pay to clean up Big Oil’s mess.
The lawsuit seeks to create an abatement fund to finance climate adaptation projects. A similar funding system was previously established in a lawsuit against lead paint manufacturers.
Eight California cities and counties have similarly sued fossil fuel companies for their climate deception. Those cases, filed in 2017 and 2018, are expected to reach trial before the state and will not be superseded by Attorney General Bonta’s lawsuit against polluters.
In an interview following the filing, California Governor Gavin Newsom said the state’s lawsuit could “move the needle” for climate accountability and he and Bonta hope more communities follow suit.
“California’s decision to take Big Oil companies to court is a watershed moment in the rapidly expanding legal fight to hold major polluters accountable for decades of climate lies,” said CCI President Richard Wiles. “As similar cases proceed toward trial, California's move is an unmistakable sign that the wave of climate lawsuits against Big Oil will keep growing and that these polluters’ days of escaping accountability for their lies are numbered.”
