DOJ sues to block Minnesota climate lawsuit against fossil fuel companies
The Department of Justice has sued to block a Minnesota lawsuit that seeks to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for allegedly misleading the public about climate change impacts. The DOJ argues that Minnesota's actions infringe on federal authority over energy regulation and conflict with a Trump executive order promoting energy development. Similar state-level climate liability lawsuits and laws in Hawaii, Michigan, New York, and Vermont face legal challenges, with the DOJ actively opposing such efforts.
- ▪Minnesota filed a lawsuit in 2020 against Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries, and the American Petroleum Institute, accusing them of deceiving the public about climate change.
- ▪The DOJ claims Minnesota's lawsuit improperly attempts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, infringing on federal authority.
- ▪A federal judge recently dismissed the DOJ's attempt to block Hawaii's similar climate lawsuit against fossil fuel companies.
- ▪Michigan's climate lawsuit against energy companies was allowed to proceed after a federal judge rejected the DOJ's intervention.
- ▪New York and Vermont passed 'climate superfund' laws in 2024 requiring fossil fuel companies to pay for climate damages, now facing legal challenges.
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The Department of Justice filed a complaint against Minnesota over the state’s efforts to hold energy companies liable for allegedly misleading the public about the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Minnesota brought the lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries, and the American Petroleum Institute in 2020, alleging they deceived the public for decades about the cost of climate change. Recommended Stories Taxpayers could foot $100 million jet fuel bill for wildfires as prices spike Exxon Mobil and Chevron resist Trump call to boost output Trump officials in Venezuela boost US drilling and mining The DOJ said on Monday that, by litigating against the industry, Minnesota was attempting to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, thereby usurping the federal government’s authority…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Washington Examiner.
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