US: Oregon County Sues Fossil Fuel Companies Over 2021 Heatwave
On Thursday, Multnomah County in Oregon, which includes the city of Portland, filed a lawsuit in state court against several oil and coal companies, as well as industry groups and consultants, for over $50B to address costs allegedly associated with climate change....
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Facts
- On Thursday, Multnomah County in Oregon, which includes the city of Portland, filed a lawsuit in state court against several oil and coal companies, as well as industry groups and consultants, for over $50B to address costs allegedly associated with climate change.1
- Those named as defendants in the lawsuit include Exxon Mobil, Shell, the American Petroleum Institute, Koch Industries, and the consultancy firm McKinsey & Co.2
- The lawsuit claims the named companies contributed to the 2021 heat dome that claimed the lives of 69 people in Oregon through their sale and promotion of fossil fuels. Researchers say the heat dome was directly caused by climate change, with the lawsuit claiming one could occur every 5-10 years.3
- With the county chair claiming the defendants 'knew their products were unsafe and harmful,' Multnomah County is seeking $50M in damages for the 2021 heatwave, $1.5B in future damages, and $50B to go towards mitigating the impact of future heat events.4
- In a written statement, defendant Chevron said the claims are 'baseless,' with other defendants saying the suit does nothing to fight climate change.5
- In the last six years, 36 US cities and counties and seven states have filed lawsuits seeking compensation for climate change-related damages. In April, SCOTUS denied an appeal from oil companies in five of the cases, allowing the lawsuits to move forward in state courts.5
Sources: 1Reuters, 2New York Times, 3OPB, 4UPI and 5Oregonlive.
Narratives
- Right narrative, as provided by Washington Examiner. Climate change lawsuits are political stunts that have no chance of succeeding, as climate change is a political question, not a judicial one. Even liberal legal scholars have long argued that the court is not the right venue for environmental regulation. The overwhelming consensus is that climate change can only be addressed in Congress, not the courtroom, as progressives waste valuable time misusing the legal system.
- Left narrative, as provided by Common Dreams. The reality of climate change being connected to inclement weather events is incontestable, and it is simple logic that those who contribute to harm bear some responsibility. A series of procedural victories have opened the door for legal accountability for climate disasters and could force change in a manner similar to what happened to the tobacco companies. Even if the lawsuits don't succeed, the cases could reveal sensitive internal documents that could show the full extent of their malignant influence on politics and the planet.
