Supreme Court weighs local governments’ climate change lawsuits against oil and gas companies - P1
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and MATTHEW DALY
Updated October 5, 2026
Source: AP
Photo / Image Source: Unsplash,
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court grappled Monday with whether local governments can sue oil and gas companies in state court to help cover costs associated with climate change, an issue with potentially billions of dollars at stake.
Key justices appeared wary about the potential sweep of litigation, but torn over the complex questions of federal and state law raised by the case.
Officials in Boulder argue their lawsuit is an attempt to hold energy companies Suncor and ExxonMobil accountable for their contributions to climate change.
They say that worsening disasters such as floods and wildfires put a heavy financial burden on local communities, and the industry should bear part of that cost.
The city and county of Boulder first sued the oil companies in 2018, years before the 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed nearly 1,100 homes and left two people dead. Total damage was estimated at $2 billion, the costliest wildfire in Colorado history.
The companies say that a flurry of lawsuits in state courts is not the way to deal with the global issue.
Does your company have a climate change plan? Is it complaint with current climate laws? Why? Why not?
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