The Supreme Court allows Honolulu’s climate change lawsuit against oil firms to continue, rejecting appeals from major companies.
The oil companies were arguing that climate change should be handled at the federal level, not by state courts. But the Hawaii Supreme Court said, “Nope, we’re good here.” They’re focusing on claims about misleading marketing from these companies, not just the effects of climate change itself.
The state court believes this lawsuit doesn’t mess with federal law since it’s not about regulating emissions or seeking damages for emissions that cross state lines. The Biden administration even backed the idea of letting the case move forward.
It’s interesting because businesses have been trying hard to shut down these kinds of lawsuits popping up across the country. They often turn to the Supreme Court for help. Back in 2021, the court sided with companies on a procedural issue in a similar case from Baltimore.
But now, two years later, they’ve turned away appeals from these companies who wanted the case moved to federal court, which is usually seen as more favorable to businesses. The conservative majority in the court has also made it tougher for the Environmental Protection Agency to deal with climate change issues.
This isn’t the first time the Supreme Court has weighed in on these matters. In 2011, they shot down an attempt to sue companies under federal common law, saying the Clean Air Act took precedence. So, this latest decision is just another chapter in the ongoing battle over climate change and accountability.
