The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear a bid by ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy to dismiss a climate change lawsuit filed by Boulder, Colorado, seeking to hold the companies liable for their role in exacerbating climate change.
The US Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case marks a significant development in the ongoing litigation between Boulder and the oil companies. The lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleges that ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy misled the public about the role of their products in contributing to climate change, while profiting from unchecked fossil fuel sales.
The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, causing a rise in the average global temperature over time. The plaintiffs in the case argue that the oil companies should cover past and future costs incurred by the city and county governments for steps taken to mitigate the effects of climate change, including infrastructure repairs, environmental damage, emergency management, and harms to public health.
ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy have denied any wrongdoing and argued that the lawsuit would illegally interfere with the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. The companies have urged lower courts to dismiss the case, but the Colorado Supreme Court denied their request in May 2025, prompting the appeal to the US Supreme Court.
The case is one of dozens of climate-related lawsuits filed by US jurisdictions against companies that extract, produce, distribute, or sell fossil fuels. The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case could have significant implications for the oil industry and the ongoing efforts to address climate change.
According to a report by Reuters, the Supreme Court previously turned away a similar bid by Sunoco and other oil companies to throw out a climate-related lawsuit by Honolulu. That lawsuit seeks to hold the companies liable for their alleged role in contributing to extreme weather affecting the region, as well as a significant rise in the average sea level along the Honolulu Pacific coastline.
The US Supreme Court’s decision to hear the Exxon and Suncor case is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to address climate change. As the New York Times reported, the case could have far-reaching implications for the oil industry and the ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information on climate change and the ongoing efforts to address it, visit EPA website.
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