The U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear a Major Climate Change Case This Fall
The decision could set a significant precedent for holding fossil fuel companies accountable.
The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a major climate change case, Suncor v. Boulder, in October, which could set a precedent for numerous similar cases brought by states, counties, and cities. This case will determine if local and state governments have the authority to sue fossil fuel companies for damages caused by climate-related disasters.
Environmental groups argue that corporations should bear their fair share of the harm, while fossil fuel companies have long known about their contribution to climate change. The Colorado Supreme Court previously ruled that the city of Boulder could hold energy companies accountable for local damages. However, a decision on the case may be delayed due to the trial not having yet occurred.
The case is being closely watched, as a win for the plaintiffs could enable local authorities to seek compensation from major emitters, while a loss could put a halt to other related cases.
Written by urgent.news from Time's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
