Big Oil faces a flood of climate lawsuits — and they’re moving closer to trial

It has been six years since cities in California set the precedent by taking Big Oil to court for misleading the public about the consequences of burning fossil fuels. Investigations revealed that companies like Exxon had prior knowledge of the risks posed by increased carbon emissions but chose to downplay the threat. Approximately 30 lawsuits have been filed nationwide as cities, states, and Indigenous tribes seek justice for the costs of climate change. Initially, most cases were held up in a legal limbo as oil companies attempted to transfer them to federal courts. However, the Supreme Court recently rejected their attempts, allowing cases such as Minnesota’s to proceed in state court. This means that executives from Exxon Mobil, BP, and other major oil companies may soon have to face jury trials. The prolonged delays may have strengthened the legal arguments against fossil fuel companies, as new evidence continues to emerge regarding what they knew about climate change. Meanwhile, the impact of climate change, such as heat waves and wildfires, has become more apparent and costly. Despite the industry’s efforts to fight back, with the recent case filed by Chicago against oil giants, the momentum for climate lawsuits continues to grow. Furthermore, recent scientific research linking climate change to extreme weather events has provided crucial evidence for these cases, showing the role that corporate emissions play in fueling climate disasters. As new lawsuits emerge, the oil industry persists in attempting to move cases to federal courts. However, the evolving science connecting climate change to weather disasters has become a game changer for these legal proceedings.