In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has sanctioned the progression of a lawsuit filed by the municipality of Honolulu against leading oil companies, including industry giants like Sunoco and Shell. The decision came in response to the oil companies’ appeal to halt the case, a move that the Supreme Court has now officially rejected.

The crux of the oil companies’ argument, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and BP, is that climate change issues should be addressed under the purview of federal law, not by state courts. They have made repeated appeals to the Supreme Court to halt similar climate change lawsuits filed in state courts across the U.S., with mixed results.

The case in question gained significant traction in October 2023 when the Hawaii Supreme Court green-lighted its advancement. The focus of the case revolves around the oil companies’ alleged deceptive marketing tactics and public statements, rather than the physical impacts of climate change. The state court ruled that the case was not pre-empted by federal law as it does not intend to regulate emissions or seek damages for interstate emissions.

The lawsuits filed by Honolulu single out the fossil fuel industry for allegedly misleading the public and contributing to global climate change, leading to property damage and a significant loss of tourism revenue. The energy companies made an unsuccessful bid to shift the case to federal court. They argued that the claims were overridden by federal law and the provisions of the Clean Air Act.

The legal representatives for Honolulu have maintained that their lawsuit aims to hold the industry accountable under Hawaii law. They argue that the industry has deliberately concealed and misrepresented the climate-change impacts of their fossil fuel products. This landmark case and the Supreme Court’s recent decision mark an important step forward in the fight against climate change, holding the fossil fuel industry accountable for its actions.

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