The U.S. Supreme Court Will Hear a Major Climate Change Case This Fall

The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments this fall in a landmark case to determine whether local and state governments can sue fossil fuel companies for climate-related disaster costs. The case, Suncor v. Boulder, will be heard on Oct. 5, when the court returns from summer recess. The decision—which will likely come months after the case is heard—will set a precedent for some two dozen other climate accountability cases that have been brought forward by states, counties, and cities. “This lawsuit is really about ensuring that corporations that have caused harm pay their fair share, rather than the burden being on the public and local governments for escalating climate impacts,” says Nikki Reisch, director of the climate and energy program at the Center for International Environmental Law.Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas are the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for around 68% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Major fossil fuel companies have long known—and sometimes hidden—the role their products have had in fueling the climate crisis. With climate change intensifying the impact of natural disasters,...