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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a request by oil companies to dismiss a lawsuit by the city of Honolulu that sought to hold them responsible for the impacts of climate change.
The defendants, including Sunoco, Shell, ExxonMobil, BP and Chevron, argued that the suit had no standing in state court and could proceed only under federal law. The state Supreme Court had previously rejected that argument, noting that the case argues on deceptive marketing grounds rather than seeking to restrict interstate commerce.
The conservative-dominated court rejected a similar appeal by oil companies in a lawsuit by cities in Colorado, Maryland, California, Hawaii and Rhode Island in 2023. However, the court also previously ruled against a similar lawsuit from the city of Baltimore on procedural grounds. .
The court has also repeatedly come out against the Biden administration on energy and environmental issues, notably against a mandate for power plants to transition to renewable energy and a rule to regulate air pollution. interstate air
Justice Samuel Alito did not participate in the deliberations on whether to take over the case. These recusals are not typically spelled out in court orders, but are likely related to Alito’s ownership of oil stocks. Similarly, the justice left discussions on the earlier appeal that the court rejected.
Before deciding whether to accept the appeal, the court had sought comment from the Biden administration, which asked the court to reject the oil companies’ appeals.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) praised the move in a statement on Monday. “The people of Honolulu are showing remarkable leadership in standing up to powerful fossil fuel companies, whose disinformation campaigns have directly contributed to the climate damage they now face,” Delta Merner said in a statement. , principal scientist at UCS’s Science Hub for Climate Litigation. . “Their efforts serve as a powerful example for communities around the world. This decision is one step in a larger effort to seek accountability and justice.”
The Hill has reached out to the oil companies for comment.
