Maine has taken the bold step of suing oil and gas behemoths Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, among others, over allegations of concealing the effects of fossil fuels on climate change since the 1960s. The lawsuit implicates the involvement of the American Petroleum Institute for aiding and abetting in deceptive conduct.
The companies are accused of multiple violations, including failure to warn, negligence, nuisance, trespass, and unfair trade practices. However, Exxon Mobil has refuted the claims, countering the lawsuit’s oversight of Maine’s historic dependence on oil and natural gas. Shell, on the other hand, agrees that immediate action on climate change is necessary but contests that the courtroom is not the appropriate venue to address it.
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident. Over the past five years, more than 20 states, tribes, cities, and counties have filed similar lawsuits against oil companies. New Jersey, California, Delaware, Minnesota, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia are among those that have taken legal action against these companies.
In an attempt to sway the outcome in their favor, the oil companies are making efforts to transfer the lawsuits from state to federal courts. However, this strategy has been largely unsuccessful as several federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, have ruled that these cases are best suited for state courts.
The lawsuit filed by Maine seeks a jury trial and demands damages for past and future climate-related damages. It also calls for the cessation of the companies’ alleged ongoing deception and the disgorgement of profits.
Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey alleges that these companies have prioritized profits over preventing irreversible, catastrophic climate effects. This prioritization, he argues, has placed a financial strain on the state and its citizens.
Adding fuel to the fire, internal communications reveal that the oil industry had knowledge of a link between fossil fuels and climate change as early as the 1970s. Despite this, they publicly cast doubt on the correlation, further deepening the controversy surrounding their actions and responsibilities.
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