The State of California has not hesitated to strike hard in its fight against global warming. By taking legal action against five oil giants, the state seeks to obtain compensation for the damage caused by these companies and to denounce their role in misinformation about the risks linked to fossil fuels.
The lawsuit was announced last Friday, with Exxon Mobil Corp, Shell PLC, Chevron Corp, BP and ConocoPhillips as the main targets. California accuses these companies of misleading the public for decades by minimizing the harmful consequences of fossil fuels on the climate.
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California, stressed in a statement that “Big Oil lied to us for more than fifty years, hiding the fact that they long knew how dangerous the fossil fuels they produced were for our planet.”
The lawsuit seeks compensation for damages caused by global warming in California. Indeed, the State faces many extreme phenomena such as forest fires, floods and droughts, directly linked to climate change. The creation of a fund dedicated to the management of this future damage is also envisaged.
The lawsuit is part of a broader trend in the United States, where many cities, counties and states are filing similar lawsuits against fossil fuel interests. These lawsuits are based on the idea that these companies must be held accountable for the harm caused by their activities over decades.
The American Petroleum Institute (API), which represents the oil and gas industry, criticized the lawsuit, saying climate policies should be the responsibility of Congress rather than the court system.
Shell, one of the companies targeted by the complaint, said it agrees with the need to act on climate change, but also rejects recourse to the courts, believing that public policies and sectoral actions are more appropriate to find solutions.
Importantly, this lawsuit is modeled after successful lawsuits against the tobacco industry and the pharmaceutical industry in the case of opioid proliferation.
In conclusion, this legal action by the State of California against the oil giants for their role in global warming shows a desire to put an end to misinformation and to make those responsible for the damage caused by fossil fuels pay. It highlights a growing trend in the United States where local governments are seeking redress for the consequences of climate change.