US Supreme Court weighs oil companies' bid to avoid climate lawsuit

The US Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Monday from oil companies ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy as they seek to dismiss a climate change lawsuit filed by Boulder, Colorado. The companies are appealing a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court that allowed Boulder's lawsuit, which accuses them of state law violations and seeks monetary damages for harms attributed to climate change, to proceed.

Exxon, based in the US, and Canada-based Suncor argue that the federal government's authority to regulate air pollution, particularly under the Clean Air Act, precludes Boulder's claims. The Trump administration has supported this position, contending that allowing such state-level suits could grant states sweeping power over conduct occurring beyond their borders.

Boulder's city and county governments accuse the energy companies of contributing to climate change and misleading the public about the risks of fossil fuels. They aim to hold the companies liable for past and future costs associated with climate change, including infrastructure repairs, environmental damage, and public health impacts.

According to Exxon and Suncor, nearly 60 state and local governments have initiated similar lawsuits seeking billions of dollars from fossil fuel companies, with more expected. A Supreme Court ruling in favor of the companies could lead to the dismissal of many of these cases. This case represents the latest instance of energy companies asking the Supreme Court to block climate-related liability or limit federal environmental regulation. The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, is expected to issue a decision by the end of June.