Conscious Living

What’s the Deal With California’s Climate Lawsuit Against Big Oil?

California’s diverse landscapes, ranging from pristine coastlines to expansive deserts, have come under increasingly devastating threats from the impacts of climate change. The state has experienced an uptick in extreme weather events, prolonged droughts, and devastating wildfires, with extensive damage to homes, agriculture, and natural areas. A recent federal report ranks California as one of the top five states suffering economic damages from climate-related natural disasters.

In response, the state has emerged as a trailblazer in environmental advocacy, fighting climate change with a series of progressive policies. However, the state’s battle recently took a new turn with a groundbreaking lawsuit that seeks to hold Big Oil accountable for its alleged role in worsening the environmental crisis.

“For more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom when introducing the lawsuit. “Covering up the fact that they’ve long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet. California is taking action to hold big polluters accountable.”

Unpacking the Lawsuit

The Golden State’s lawsuit against Big Oil alleges that five major companies — ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and BP—knowingly contributed to the state’s environmental crisis by concealing the adverse effects of their products on the climate. California’s legal argument claims that these corporations were not only aware of the environmental impact of their fossil fuel products but also misled the public by engaging in deceptive practices to downplay or deny these risks.

Alleging “decades of deception,” California’s lawsuit maintains:

• Oil and gas executives knew about the dangers of the fossil fuels they produce.
• Their own reports directly linked fossil fuel consumption to rising global temperatures and damage to our air, land, and water.
• Big Oil suppressed that information from the public and policymakers to protect company profits, and spent billions to spread disinformation on climate change and delay transitions away from fossil fuels.
• Big Oil used this information for their own profits, developing new procedures for exploring oil production in the Arctic because they knew that ice in the Arctic Sea was melting.
• Big Oil continues its deception by promoting its fossil fuel products as “clean” or “green” or “low-emissions” when they still produce carbon pollution. What’s more, they promote their use of renewable fuel products that actually make up only a fraction of a percent of their earnings.

What’s at Stake

California’s lawsuit against Big Oil could have profound consequences, not only for the state but for environmental activism and corporate responsibility across the country and beyond.

• Precedent for accountability: If successful, the lawsuit could establish a precedent for other states and nations to hold major corporations accountable for their contributions to climate change. This could cause a paradigm shift in the corporate landscape, prompting increased scrutiny of environmental practices and encouraging a more responsible approach to business operations.
• Economic implications: Critics of the state’s lawsuit argue that a ruling against Big Oil could have economic ramifications, potentially leading to job losses and higher energy prices. But supporters point to the long-term benefits of environmental responsibility that could outweigh these short-term challenges.
• Transition to clean energy: A successful lawsuit may encourage Big Oil to accelerate its transition to cleaner energy sources. It could incentivize investments in renewable energy technologies and prompt a reevaluation of business strategies to reduce carbon emissions.
• Public awareness and policy influence: A successful legal challenge could enhance public awareness of the environmental impact of fossil fuels, potentially influencing policy decisions at both the state and federal levels.

Big Oil Responds

Big Oil has mounted a vigorous defense against the lawsuit, claiming the industry plays an important role in global economic development and energy provision. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth pushed back against the lawsuit in an interview with Bloomberg Television, saying, “This is one of many such actions that we’ve seen over the years—ironically, a number of them filed on behalf of people who have actually profited from and encouraged energy development. Climate change is a global issue. It calls for a coordinated global policy response, not piecemeal litigation that benefits attorneys and politicians.”

Big Oil’s supporters also argue the lawsuit oversimplifies the complex interplay of factors contributing to climate change and downplays the industry’s ongoing efforts to develop cleaner technologies.

A Move Worth Watching

As California’s climate change lawsuit progresses through the legal system, it has the potential to shape the global transition to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. It marks a big chapter in the fight against climate change, involving some of the most significant players in the nation’s energy supply and environmental advocacy.

Join the Charge! Sign up for our E-Newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.