Supreme Court to hear Big Oil bid to block Boulder climate lawsuit
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to open its new term Monday by hearing Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy’s effort to block a climate-change lawsuit filed by the city and county of Boulder, Colorado.
Boulder’s 2018 lawsuit seeks damages under state law for past and future harms it attributes to fossil-fuel production and allegedly deceptive marketing. Local officials say climate change has forced the area to contend with extreme heat, more frequent and severe wildfires, and ecosystem damage. Exxon and Suncor argue that federal law bars the claims.
The companies unsuccessfully sought to move the case to federal court and later asked a Boulder County court to dismiss it. After that court refused, the Colorado Supreme Court allowed the case to proceed, prompting the companies’ appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court will consider both whether federal law precludes Boulder’s claims and whether the justices …