News & Analysis
August 11, 2023
Wildfires have devastated Maui this week, engulfing the historic town of Lahaina, forcing mass evacuations, and killing at least 55 people. While the wildfire event is creating unprecedented damage to the island, the increasing scale of climate disasters is not a surprise to Maui leaders and residents who have borne the brunt of worsening climate impacts for years.
In 2020, Maui County officials sued Exxon, Shell, Chevron, and other oil giants for lying about the climate damages they knew their products would cause. The lawsuit connects Big Oil’s pollution and climate delay to the increasing risk of sea level rise, flooding, loss of wetlands and beaches, and — most devastatingly relevant — the “increased frequency, intensity, and destructive force of wildfires” Maui County faces.
“The County’s fire ‘season’ now runs year-round, rather than only a few months of the year,” the lawsuit states.
Oil companies knew decades ago that their products would create “catastrophic” environmental conditions in Hawai’i and beyond. Instead of warning the public or leading the transition to clean energy, the oil and gas industry mobilized a misinformation campaign to obscure climate science and raked in massive profits at the expense of public safety.
“With all the demands our citizens face in these times of economic, social and healthcare emergencies, it’s unjust to let the oil companies scoop up profits and avoid paying for any of the damage they’ve inflicted,” Maui Mayor Michael Victorino said when filing the 2020 lawsuit.
Maui residents are currently suffering mass evacuations, the loss of loved ones and homes, and cultural and economic destruction that will be felt for years to come — it’s cruel to stick them with the bill to clean up and recover from a disaster made worse by Big Oil's lies. Maui communities have already paid more than enough; it’s time for Big Oil to stand trial for their climate deception.
