Climate Change News
Climate Change
Dem Pa. AG candidate: Litigation not part of addressing climate change
HARRISBURG, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - The Democrat hoping to replace Michelle Henry as Pennsylvania Attorney General doesn't seem to be willing to push climate change lawsuits against the oil industry, like some local officials have.
Climate Change
Oil companies say Md. judge keeps climate suit alive for wrong reason
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) - Oil companies say a Maryland judge is keeping a climate lawsuit by Annapolis and Anne Arundel County alive for the wrong reason while ignoring a fellow judge’s dismissal of a nearly identical case by the City of Baltimore.
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Climate change may be 'accident,' but CO2 is 'pollutant,' Hawaii court rules
HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) - Recklessly emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere qualifies as an “accident” but CO2 is also a “pollutant” excluded from insurance coverage, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled, answering questions central to a closely watched climate lawsuit.
Climate Change
Bucks County cut corners to file climate change lawsuit, oil industry says
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (Legal Newsline) - Picturesque Bucks County, Pa., decided to do something about climate change itself earlier this year when it hired private lawyers on a contingency-fee basis to sue 14 of the world’s largest oil companies.
Climate Change
Ebony Twilley Martin out as executive director of Greenpeace USA, while new interim leadership helms group amid Energy Transfer lawsuit
A pair of temporary leaders are currently helming Greenpeace USA, after its now-former executive director Ebony Twilley Martin recently departed the organization under circumstances that have yet to be made fully clear.
Climate Change
Baltimore judge throws out climate change case, says it's beyond the power of a state court
BALTIMORE (Legal Newsline) - For the first time, a state court judge has thrown out one of the climate change lawsuits brought against the energy industry by an alliance of government officials and private lawyers.
Climate Change
No decision on climate change appeal from SCOTUS; Biden Admin asked for input
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Rather than grant or reject a petition seeking appeal of a key ruling in a climate change lawsuit against the oil industry, the U.S. Supreme Court has instead asked the Biden Administration its thoughts.
Climate Change
Arizona Legislature sues Environmental Protection Agency over new rules pushing switch to electric vehicles
The Arizona Legislature has filed suit against the Environmental Protection Agency, after the group issued pollution emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles that will require a speedy, costly transition to electric-powered vehicles and potentially tax the state’s power grid.
Climate Change
State AGs say Hawaii case is 'unique opportunity' for SCOTUS to halt climate lawsuits
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A group of 20 state attorneys general has joined the oil industry in calling for the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a Hawaii lawsuit over climate change, saying the case offers a “unique opportunity” to decide whether state courts have the power to effectively drive national energy policy.
Climate Change
Oil industry asks SCOTUS to put an end to local government climate change suits
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - For the first time, the U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to review the merits of long-running climate change litigation that represents an alliance between personal injury lawyers and government officials nationwide.
Climate Change
Delaware loses some claims against oil companies but can proceed with disinformation lawsuit
WILMINGTON, Del. (Legal Newsline) - Delaware has presented enough evidence to proceed with its lawsuit accusing BP, ExxonMobil and several other oil companies of misleading consumers about the dangers of global warming, although it can’t sue over damages stemming from out-of-state emissions, a state court judge ruled.
Climate Change
Climate change plaintiff drops case after being told to continue in federal court
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Rather than continue in a federal court, a fishermen's group suing Big Oil over climate change would prefer to drop the matter entirely.
Climate Change
Honolulu climate is suit about 'disinformation,' not emissions, Hawaii Supreme Court says
HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) - Honolulu’s lawsuit against the oil companies isn’t about halting fossil-fuel production or regulating greenhouse gas emissions but stopping the industry’s practice of lying to consumers, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled.
Climate Change
Oil companies say Maryland climate change suits reach beyond boundaries
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Legal Newsline) - Oil companies sought to dismiss a pair of climate lawsuits by Maryland municipal governments, saying they seek money for global-warming emissions far outside state boundaries and are based in part upon corporate statements protected under free speech laws.
Climate Change
Judge in R.I. climate change case responds to bias arguments
NEWPORT, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - The judge hearing Rhode Island's climate change case against companies like Chevron and Exxon has responded to their claims he appears to be biased against them.
Climate Change
Teen angst over climate change convinces judge to strike down Montana law
HELENA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) - A “passionate skier” called “Badge,” named after a popular recreation area and who “feels a part of him is lost” after a devastating wildfire at Badger Two-Medicine. A young woman who believes the deteriorating climate has hurt her ability to play competitive soccer. Another young woman who questions whether having children “is an option in a world devastated by climate change.”
Climate Change
No fees for group who sought climate litigation records from Vermont attorney general
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - A group that opposes climate-change litigation doesn’t deserve to recover any of its legal fees in a case where it convinced a trial judge to order the Vermont Attorney General’s office to turn over some documents detailing its agreements with other AGs, the state’s highest court ruled.
Climate Change
Exxon, Chevron and others lay out arguments against local climate change cases
JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - Now that a years-long battle over where climate-change lawsuits brought by states and cities that teamed with private lawyers should be heard is over, the major corporations being sued are making their arguments they should be tossed.
Climate Change
Judge in Rhode Island climate case accused of potential bias
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - Oil companies sued by Rhode Island over global warming say the state judge hearing their case cited has created the appearance of bias by citing news articles in a ruling and comparing the state to developing nations that are seeking payment for climate change at the United Nations.
Climate Change
Hawaii's chief justice involved with environmental advocate, as his court handles fate of climate change lawsuit
HONOLULU (Legal Newsline) - The chief justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court acknowledged he collaborated with a nonprofit environmental group to discuss climate litigation as he prepares to hear an appeal in Honolulu’s lawsuit against the energy industry.