In a decisive ruling, oil and gas giants, BP PLC and Exxon Mobil Corp., alongside numerous other companies in the sector, were served a setback in their efforts to transfer an Anne Arundel County, Maryland, climate lawsuit to a more favorable federal court. The inability to move the case signifies a pivotal moment, highlighting the oil industry's growing legal accountability for climate change-related damages.
1. BP PLC and Exxon Mobil Corp., along with other companies in the oil and gas sector, faced a decisive legal setback in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
2. These companies were unsuccessful in their attempt to move a climate lawsuit to a more favorable federal court.
3. This signifies a pivotal moment emphasizing the increasing legal accountability of the oil industry for climate change-related damages.
4. The lawsuit was initiated by the county, accusing these energy companies of significant contribution to climate change and its damaging effects on local ecosystems and communities.
5. The majority of the legal battle for this significant dispute will be fought in state courts.
According to the Carbon Majors Database, just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of the global GHG emissions since 1988.
This legal setback for BP PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp., and other oil and gas corporations originated in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The objective was to move an existing climate lawsuit to a friendlier federal battleground, but their efforts went unrealized. The suit, initiated by the county, alleges these energy entities have significantly contributed to climate change, leading to detrimental effects on local communities and ecosystems. The primary battlefront for this monumental dispute, consequently, remains the state courts.