This story was originally published by Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
Northwest Oregon experienced an unprecedented heatwave in June 2021. Multnomah County, the most populous county in the Emerald State, recorded record-breaking temperatures of 108, 112, and 116 degrees Fahrenheit over three days. The extreme heat caused metal on cable cars to melt and asphalt on roads to buckle. Due to Oregon’s typically mild summers, almost half of the homes in the county lacked cooling systems. Tragically, sixty-nine people died from heat stroke, most of whom were found in their homes.
When scientific studies attributed the extreme temperatures to heat domes influenced by climate change, county officials took action. They investigated large fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil, Shell, and Chevron, and eventually filed a lawsuit against them. In the lawsuit, the county accused these companies of negligence, creating a public nuisance, fraud, and deceit by promoting fossil fuel products as harmless to the environment while knowing the risks of climate change.
The lawsuit seeks damages for the public health costs incurred during the 2021 heat dome episode. Legal experts believe that the case’s focus on specific event-related damages makes it unique compared to other climate change lawsuits, which typically address long-term impacts like sea level rise. The lawsuit alleges that fossil fuel companies like Exxon, Shell, and Chevron were aware of the dangers posed by their products but continued to mislead the public.
Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson emphasized the real financial costs and harm caused by climate-induced weather events and expressed the importance of holding these companies accountable. Despite potential defenses from fossil fuel companies citing existing environmental laws, the lawsuit remains steadfast in seeking over $1.5 billion in damages to address the effects of the 2021 heat dome.
Legal experts note that advancements in weather modeling linking greenhouse gases to specific impacts may bolster the county’s case. By demonstrating a direct connection between emissions from companies and the 2021 heat dome, the lawsuit aims to prove liability for the damages incurred. Improved climate modeling capabilities provide stronger evidence to support the county’s claims in court.
Overall, cases like Multnomah County’s lawsuit are shedding light on the human costs of climate change and the accountability of fossil fuel companies. By presenting evidence linking specific events to climate change, these lawsuits aim to hold corporations responsible for the damages caused by their products.
