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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday asked the Biden administration to weigh in on oil companies’ attempt to block a lawsuit filed by the city of Honolulu, Hawaii, that accuses them of deceiving the public about climate dangers for decades. Changes caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
The U.S. deputy attorney general was invited to file a brief outlining the government’s view on whether the court should hear the challenge to the city’s lawsuit.
A group of major oil companies including BHP (BHP), BP (BP), Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC), Shell (SHEL) ) and SunocoNew York Stock Exchange: The Sun) and other companies asked the Supreme Court to consider the case after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled in October that the lawsuit could proceed.
The companies argued in their request for review that the U.S. Clean Air Act subjects broad environmental impact claims to the federal court system and prevents state and local governments from bringing their own lawsuits.
Honolulu’s attorney said its charges of “deceptive” business practices by the companies were “completely consistent with the states’ core interests and historical powers.”
