Supreme Court Rejects Oil Companies' Climate Change Appeals

The US Supreme Court has rejected appeals by Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Suncor Energy, and other oil companies to move lawsuits filed by state and local governments accusing them of worsening climate change out of state courts and into federal courts. The lawsuits were filed by the state of Rhode Island and municipalities or counties in California, Colorado, Hawaii, and Maryland. The oil companies argued that the lawsuits should be heard in federal court, but the lower courts determined that they belonged in state court. Numerous state and local governments have pursued litigation against oil companies seeking climate-related damages.