This coverage is made possible through a partnership with Grist and Interlochen Public Radio in Northern Michigan.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced her plans to file a lawsuit against fossil fuel companies for their role in contributing to climate change and damaging the state’s economy and way of life.
Nessel emphasized the urgency of holding these companies accountable for the damages they have caused, stating, “It’s long past time that we step up and hold the fossil fuel companies responsible for all these damages accountable.”
Joining numerous other local, tribal, and state governments, Michigan aims to make the industry pay for the climate damage it has inflicted.
The lawsuit seeks to recover losses incurred by Michigan due to climate change, citing severe weather events, agricultural risks, and impacts such as last winter’s shortened ski season and canceled sled dog races.
To handle the case, the department is soliciting proposals from external lawyers, with Nessel expecting the potential for bringing billions to the state to address climate change damages. Submissions are open until June 5.
Nessel stressed the exhaustive nature of the case, particularly in going after “Big Oil,” requiring additional legal support and staff.
Michigan’s legal action is supported by investigations showing how companies like Exxon have long been aware of the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions but downplayed the risks.
Responding to Michigan’s plans to sue, Ryan Meyers of the American Petroleum Institute criticized the move as part of a “meritless, politicized campaign” against the industry, suggesting that climate policy should be addressed by Congress, not the courts.
The attorney general’s department is collaborating with state agencies to evaluate the impacts of climate change within Michigan, drawing on past successes in legal actions against industries like opioids and PFAS-producing chemical manufacturers.
