The City of Chicago, IL, has filed a lawsuit against a number of major oil companies over the “catastrophic consequences” of global climate change. The suit alleges that the companies knew of the potential disastrous effects of climate change for decades, but deliberately hid this knowledge in order to bolster their profits. This has caused substantial damage to the city, in the form of extreme weather phenomena that are likely to harm Chicago and its residents for years to come.
What is This Lawsuit About?
This lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court on February 20, was directed against five of the world’s largest oil companies: ExxonMobile, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP and Shell, blaming them for much of the harm caused by global climate change. The suit accuses the companies of acting to discredit science that demonstrated the negative effects of burning fossil fuels, which helped them to keep sales of their products up. In particular, they point to the actions of the American Petroleum Institute, an energy industry lobbying group that has often worked to promote disinformation about climate change.
Why is Chicago Suing These Companies?
Chicago has sued these companies for alleged harm caused to the city as a result of climate change, which they allege was caused at least in part by the oil companies’ disinformation efforts. This includes damage from extreme heat, more frequent and more intense storms, flooding, and erosion. The suit alleges a variety of different types of misconduct against the companies, including fraud, nuisance, conspiracy, and negligence.
What Are They Hoping to Get?
The city is hoping to obtain money to compensate the city for costs incurred in needing to repair damage or upgrade infrastructure to accommodate the effects of climate change. This includes $188 million in projects to improve climate-related infrastructure in low-income communities, as well as other expenses. Chicago is actually not the first government authority to attempt such a lawsuit, as states like New York and California have also filed similar suits against these companies.
Is This Lawsuit Likely to Succeed?
Legal experts, on the whole, are skeptical about the chances of success for the lawsuit. It can be difficult to pinpoint particularized damages related to climate change, which in turn can make it hard to hold them accountable in court. At minimum, the lawsuit is likely to drag out for years as lawyers from these oil companies seek to avoid paying out for damages allegedly caused by climate change.
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