Supreme Court Weighs Big Oil's Attempt to Stop Climate Lawsuits
The US Supreme Court has begun its new term by hearing a significant climate case, Suncor Energy versus Boulder County. Local officials are suing oil companies to share the costs of climate damage, claiming the companies hid what they knew about fossil fuels. The industry argues that federal law pre-empts these state-level lawsuits. A ruling in favor of the oil companies could permanently block dozens of similar climate cases nationwide.
The US Supreme Court began its new nine-month term on Monday by hearing a major case that could decide the future of climate change litigation. In *Suncor Energy Inc v County Commissioners of Boulder County*, fossil fuel giants are attempting to block lawsuits that seek to hold them financially responsible for environmental damage.
The dispute began in 2018 when officials in Boulder County, Colorado, filed a lawsuit in state court against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy, which is based in Canada. It was argued by the county that the companies had misrepresented what they knew about the climate damage caused by burning fossil fuels. Consequently, local taxpayers have been forced to pay for rising climate costs, and Boulder wants the companies to share this burden.
However, the oil companies argue that state courts are pre-empted by federal law from hearing these cases. If the Supreme Court were to side with the industry, it would deliver a fatal blow to dozens of similar lawsuits filed by local governments across the country.
Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from the case due to his oil stock holdings, leaving only eight justices to decide. This means Boulder needs to convince only one of the five remaining conservative justices to win, assuming the three liberal justices support the county.
During the two-hour hearing, the justices focused heavily on the legal merits of the case. Kannon Shanmugam, representing the oil companies, argued that climate change involves global fuel users and must be left to lawmakers. He warned that allowing these cases in state courts would lead to an astonishing number of lawsuits.
While some experts believe the outcome is too close to call, others are worried about the future of climate litigation. They noted that if the industry won this case, it would achieve the "home run" it has been searching for.
Take a position. Out loud, if you can.
Four ways to start. Pick one and try saying it before you scroll on.
Tip · Record yourself, use in a notebook, or practice with a language partner.
What legal argument are the oil companies using to try to dismiss Boulder's lawsuit?
Second Conditional
We use the second conditional to talk about hypothetical, unlikely, or imaginary situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + past simple, would + base verb'.
“If the Supreme Court were to side with the industry, it would deliver a fatal blow to dozens of similar lawsuits filed by local governments across the country.”
What to know · B2
Try saying this aloud
Scenario: You are participating in a structured debate about corporate environmental responsibility.
- 01“seek to hold them financially responsible”
- 02“share this burden”
- 03“it would deliver a fatal blow to...”
Register tip · formal
🔑Key Phrases
To make a person or organization pay for damages they caused.
The city wants to hold the chemical factory financially responsible for the river cleanup.
To divide a heavy cost, responsibility, or trouble among multiple parties.
Instead of making taxpayers pay for everything, corporations must share this burden.
An idiom meaning an action that completely destroys or ends many ongoing legal efforts.
The new federal ruling dealt a fatal blow to dozens of similar lawsuits.
A very large, surprising quantity of legal cases.
If this law passes, we will see an astonishing number of lawsuits filed by citizens.
A metaphor from baseball meaning to achieve a complete, massive victory.
By winning the appeal, the defense team managed to achieve the 'home run' they wanted.
Article Audio — Kokoro TTS
Supreme Court Weighs Big Oil's Attempt to Stop Climate Lawsuits
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
To what extent should fossil fuel companies be held responsible for the global transition to green energy?
Evaluate - 2
How do you evaluate the ethical implications of a Supreme Court justice holding stock in an industry involved in a case?
Evaluate - 3
If state-level lawsuits are blocked, what alternative legal avenues could local governments pursue to address climate costs?
Predict - 4
Compare the effectiveness of legislative action versus judicial action in regulating corporate environmental practices.
Compare - 5
What is your opinion on the oil industry's argument that climate litigation is too broad for state courts?
Opinion - 6
How has climate change directly impacted the infrastructure or economy of your home country?
Personal - 7
Predict how a ruling in favor of the fossil fuel industry might affect corporate accountability in other sectors.
Predict - 8
How should local taxpayers be protected from the rising costs of climate-related disasters?
Opinion
News sourced from: The Guardian Environment →. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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