Press Releases
February 19, 2020
LAS VEGAS — During tonight’s Democratic presidential debate, moderator Vanessa Hauc asked former Vice President Joe Biden what he would do to hold oil and gas company executives accountable for climate change.
When pressed, Biden responded by talking about the importance of communities suffering from climate damages having access to the courts. Their exchange is transcribed below:
Hauc: “What would you do with these companies that are responsible for the destruction of our planet?”
Biden: “This is an industry we should be able to sue. We should go after, just like we did the drug companies, just like we did with the tobacco companies.”
Watch video of the exchange here:
Vice President @JoeBiden is 100% correct:
— Center for Climate Integrity (@climatecosts) February 20, 2020
Communities should be able to sue #BigOil for destroying our climate, just as Big Tobacco and Big Pharma were sued for the damage their products caused.#MakePollutersPay #ExxonKnew (via @NBCNews) pic.twitter.com/McDVvfMkiD
In response, Richard Wiles, executive director of the Center for Climate Integrity, released the following statement:
“As Vice President Biden would say, here’s the deal: Big Oil lied to the public about climate change for 40 years.
“Communities should be able to sue Big Oil for destroying our climate, just as Big Tobacco and Big Pharma were sued and held accountable for the damages their products caused the public.“More than a dozen communities across the country have taken fossil fuel companies to court to make them pay for billions of dollars in damages from sea-level rise, floods, wildfires, and other climate disasters, and more are sure to follow.
“In order to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the harm their products caused, it is vital that communities suffering from climate damages maintain their right to access the courts.”