California sues oil giants, claiming deception and climate harms

By Alicia Diaz

September 17, 2023 — 1.48pm

California is suing major oil companies including ExxonMobil and Shell, saying they deceived the public for decades while creating or contributing to local climate catastrophes.

The civil case, filed in superior court in San Francisco, also targets BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron and the American Petroleum Institute, according to a spokesperson at the US attorney-general’s office.

The financial burden of climate disasters has prompted major US insurers to limit their coverage in California.Credit: AP

The lawsuit requests the creation of an abatement fund to finance climate mitigation efforts, an injunction to protect California’s natural resources, damages and penalties.

The action includes some of the strongest allegations against oil giants as the state deals with increasingly destructive storms and weather, from ravaging wildfires to “atmospheric rivers”.

California has spent, and will continue to dish out, billions of dollars to recover from climate catastrophes, the complaint said.

“From extreme heat to drought and water shortages, the climate crisis they have caused is undeniable. It is time they pay to abate the harm they have caused,” Attorney-General Rob Bonta said.

The increasingly heavy financial burden of climate disasters has prompted major US insurance companies to limit their coverage in California. State Farm General Insurance no longer accepts new applications for property and casualty coverage in the state.

The lawsuit comes ahead of New York City’s climate week, which runs alongside the UN General Assembly. California Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to discuss the legal action at the opening ceremony on Sunday.

Shell said litigation wasn’t the appropriate vehicle for addressing climate change.

“We do not believe the courtroom is the right venue to address climate change, but that smart policy from government and action from all sectors is the appropriate way to reach solutions and drive progress,” Shell said in a statement.

Chevron criticised the California government. “Its local courts have no constructive or constitutionally permissible role in crafting global energy policy,” a Chevron spokesperson said.

American Petroleum Institute, for its part, defended the industry, citing environmental and green initiatives.

“The record of the past two decades demonstrates that the industry has achieved its goal of providing affordable, reliable American energy to US consumers while substantially reducing emissions and our environmental footprint,” API senior vice president and general counsel Ryan Meyers said in a statement.

Food and Water Watch, a DC-based advocacy group, commended California state leaders for taking this step but said it would take years for residents to feel the impact of the payouts requested in the lawsuit. Instead, they called on Governor Newsom to stop new fossil fuel permits, reject hydrogen and carbon capture and quickly moving off fossil fuels.

ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips did not respond to requests for comment. BP declined to comment.

Bloomberg

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