Supreme Court Weighs Boulder Climate Claims Against Oil

The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether local governments can use state law to seek damages from fossil fuel companies for climate-related harms, in a case brought by Boulder, Colorado, against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy. The companies argue that claims over greenhouse gas emissions and their effects are governed by federal law, while Boulder says the companies contributed to climate change and misled the public about fossil fuels’ risks. The decision could affect more than two dozen similar lawsuits and clarify whether state and local governments can pursue such cases. Industry advocates warn that allowing the claims to proceed could expose energy companies and related businesses to extensive litigation and added costs. Separately, Louisiana and Cameron Parish have asked the Supreme Court to lift a pause on a coastal-damage case, part of broader disputes over whether claims against oil and gas companies belong in state or federal court.