New York City dismisses climate change lawsuit against Exxon BP Shell
A judge dismissed New York City’s lawsuit against Exxon Mobil and BP for misrepresenting their products and commitment to renewable energy, as well as their fight against climate change.
Anar Patel, a state Supreme Court justice, ruled on Tuesday that the city cannot claim to have climate-conscious citizens, but then let them down by oil companies who fail to disclose the contribution of their fossil fuels to climate change.
Patel wrote, "The city can't have it both way."
Patel found that there was no evidence the oil companies or defendant American Petroleum Institute engaged in "greenwashing", including statements about alternative energy and clean energy, to increase sales of fossil fuels products in the city.
She said that general statements like Exxon's claim to help people drive "cleaner" and "smarter" for longer were too vague, suggesting the defendants products have nothing to do climate change.
New York City, which has about 8.3 millions residents, said that the companies had falsely presented themselves as leaders in climate change in their ads and on social media despite only minimal investments in renewable energy like wind and solar.
It demanded civil fines as well as an end to the alleged deceptions.
Nicholas Paolucci said that the city was reviewing its options on Wednesday.
He said, "Our complaint alleged these defendants spent millions of dollars to mislead the public into thinking that they and their products contribute to a future powered by clean energy." "They don't. Companies who violate city consumer protection laws must be held accountable. New Yorkers deserve no less."
Requests for comments from the oil companies were not immediately responded to.
Ryan Meyers, general counsel of the American Petroleum Institute, said that the trade group is pleased with the dismissal. He said that Congress should debate and make decisions on climate policy, not a patchwork court system.
Several state and local governments in the United States have sued oil companies for climate change. This includes carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gasses.
Patel ruled a day after the U.S. Supreme Court
The refusal to stop
The city of Honolulu has filed its own lawsuit against Exxon BP Shell and other oil companies.
New York City filed its lawsuit in April 2021. This was three weeks after a federal appellate court dismissed its suit seeking to hold Exxon BP Shell Chevron ConocoPhillips and ConocoPhillips liable for its global warming costs.
City of New York v. Exxon Mobil Corp et al., New York State Supreme Court New York County, Case No. 451071/2021. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, New York. Editing by Jane Merriman, Franklin Paul and Jane Merriman
(source: Reuters)
