Supreme Court allows Hawaii climate change lawsuit to move forward

In October 2023, the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that a lawsuit brought by Honolulu against major fossil fuel companies could proceed, allowing the case to move forward under state law. This lawsuit, initiated in 2020, accuses companies like Sunoco, ExxonMobil, and Shell of misleading the public regarding the dangers of climate change linked to their products. It highlights significant damages suffered by the city including costs incurred from rising sea levels and extreme weather events, which have led to retrofitting infrastructure such as wastewater plants. The situation escalated as various oil companies attempted to halt the proceedings by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. These companies contended that climate change is primarily a federal issue and argued that state courts should not have jurisdiction over cases surrounding interstate emissions. However, the Supreme Court on January 12, 2025, rejected their appeal, granting Honolulu the ability to transition into pretrial discovery in this lawsuit that seeks unspecified monetary damages. The lawsuit is part of a larger trend seen across other states and municipalities as local governments seek to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change. Business interests have been voicing concerns that such litigation threatens to undermine federal regulations dictating how these companies function and may elevate fuel costs for consumers. This development follows a history of similar attempts in courts, with the Supreme Court previously siding with companies on procedural issues pertaining to climate lawsuits. As the government navigates these legal challenges, the Biden administration has been supportive of state-led actions against oil companies, going against previous stances taken during more conservative court rulings that limited the Environmental Protection Agency's authority over climate regulation. The ongoing lawsuit reflects the growing sentiment among local governments that they must take action to protect their residents and infrastructure from the increasingly severe impacts of climate change driven by fossil fuel consumption.