Supreme Court Denies Oil Companies' Climate Change Appeals

The US Supreme Court rejected appeals by oil companies, including BP, Chevron, and Shell, to move climate change lawsuits brought by municipalities from state to federal court. The decision allows the lawsuits to proceed in state courts, where plaintiffs have a better chance of winning damage awards. The municipalities claim they have been harmed by the effects of climate change caused by carbon emissions that the oil companies are heavily responsible for. Business groups expressed disappointment, while environmental groups hailed the decision as a victory.