In a landmark move, the City of Chicago is taking six leading oil and gas corporations, along with their principal trade association, to court. The lawsuit accuses these industry giants of misleading Chicago consumers about the impacts of climate change and the role their operations play in exacerbating this global crisis. This lawsuit underscores become the latest chapter in a heated battle between individual cities and the fossil fuel industry.
1. The City of Chicago is suing six leading oil and gas corporations and their principal trade association, accusing them of misleading consumers about the impacts of climate change.
2. The lawsuit alleges that the corporations knowingly contributed to the issue of climate change by spreading false information about the effects of fossil fuels on the environment.
3. The suit accuses these corporations of profiting from the ignorance and doubt caused by their own misinformation campaigns, at the expense of the Earth's health.
4. This legal battle signifies an ambitious attempt by the city to directly hold oil and gas corporations accountable for their role in climate change.
5. The case sets a potential global trend, which will likely see other cities follow suit in holding fossil fuel companies responsible for their contributions to climate change.
From 1965 to 2017, just 20 fossil fuel companies have contributed to 35% of all energy-related carbon dioxide and methane worldwide, totaling 480 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
In this unprecedented lawsuit, Chicago alleges that these six major corporations and their key trade association knowingly misled the public about the detrimental impact of fossil fuels on the environment. The suit claims that these entities spread false information, contributing to the escalating issue of climate change. It further argues that these corporations capitalized on the ignorance and doubt engendered by their own misinformation campaigns, profiting at the expense of the planet. This remarkable legal battle marks an ambitious attempt by the city to hold oil and gas corporations directly accountable for their role in climate change, a trend that we may soon see replicated in other cities across the globe.