Supreme Court opens new term with shaky Trump relationship

On Monday, the US Supreme Court will commence its nine-month term with a case concerning a lawsuit from Boulder, Colorado officials seeking financial damages for climate change-related harms. This marks the inaugural instance among several pivotal cases set to be addressed during the term, encompassing matters such as President Trump's immigration policies and state-level restrictions on assault-style weapons.

The court's conservative 6-3 majority has significantly shifted US law to the right over recent years. The US Supreme Court convenes its term on the first Monday in October. Exxon, a US-based oil company, and Suncor, a Canada-based entity, challenged the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to allow Boulder's lawsuit to proceed, accusing the oil companies of violating state laws and misleading the public about the risks of fossil fuels.

Boulder aims to hold the companies accountable for the costs of climate change, encompassing infrastructure repairs, environmental damage, emergency management, and public health risks. The combustion of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, leading to a rise in global temperatures over time.

Around 60 state and local governments have initiated similar lawsuits, seeking billions of dollars from fossil fuel companies, with more anticipated. A ruling in favor of the oil companies might result in many of these cases being dismissed. This case exemplifies energy-sector companies appealing to the Supreme Court to block climate-related liabilities or constrain federal environmental regulations.

Proponents of the oil companies argue that permitting Boulder's most extensive claims could grant states extensive authority over activities outside their jurisdiction. Exxon and Suncor contend that Boulder's claims encroach upon the domain governed by the Clean Air Act. Justice Samuel Alito, who owns stock in multiple oil and gas companies but not Exxon or Suncor, will not participate in the case. The Supreme Court's verdict is anticipated by the end of June.