Climate Lawsuits Against Energy Giants Enter Critical Phase

Lawsuits that aim to hold major players in the fossil-fuel industry responsible for climate change are entering a critical phase, as several state courts this fall are considering whether the cases can move forward. The lawsuits have been filed under state laws by Rhode Island and several local governments, including the city of Baltimore; Boulder and San Miguel counties, Colo.; Honolulu and Maui counties, Hawaii; and Marin, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, Calif. The lawsuits allege varied environmental harms from greenhouse-gas emissions filed under state laws by Rhode Island and several local governments. The lawsuits come as the Federal Reserve has signaled that interest rates may not fall as much as previously planned, and that higher interest rates may be here to stay, raising concerns about the potential impact of higher interest rates on the economy and corporate profits12345.

Here are the key bullet points:

• Lawsuits that aim to hold major players in the fossil-fuel industry responsible for climate change are entering a critical phase, as several state courts this fall are considering whether the cases can move forward1.
• The lawsuits have been filed under state laws by Rhode Island and several local governments, including the city of Baltimore; Boulder and San Miguel counties, Colo.; Honolulu and Maui counties, Hawaii; and Marin, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, Calif123.
• The lawsuits allege varied environmental harms from greenhouse-gas emissions filed under state laws by Rhode Island and several local governments23.
• The lawsuits come as the Federal Reserve has signaled that interest rates may not fall as much as previously planned, and that higher interest rates may be here to stay, raising concerns about the potential impact of higher interest rates on the economy and corporate profits45.
• The lawsuits have sparked a conversation online about the role of energy companies in climate change and the importance of holding them accountable for their actions12345.

The lawsuits against energy giants for their role in climate change have raised questions about the role of energy companies in climate change and the importance of holding them accountable for their actions.