Several major oil companies, such as Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, and ConocoPhillips, are being sued by the state of California. According to the lawsuit, these companies have downplayed the risks of fossil fuels and deceived the public, leading to billions of dollars in damages. The American Petroleum Institute is also named as a defendant in the case.
California wants an abatement fund to be created to cover future damages caused by climate-related disasters in the state. However, the defendants believe that Congress should determine climate policy instead of the court system.
This lawsuit is part of a larger movement of environmental litigation against fossil fuel companies, similar to successful cases against the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries. The industry is trying to avoid state trials on procedural grounds.