California filed a new lawsuit against big oil and gas companies. This was confirmed by state officials on Saturday, Sept. 16. The legal action claims that gas and oil firms deceived the public regarding the risks posed by fossil fuels.
California Files Lawsuit Against Big Oil, Gas Companies
According to NBC News' latest report, California's latest lawsuit accuses oil and gas companies of deceiving the public regarding the effects of fossil fuels.
The civil lawsuit filed in the state Superior Court in San Francisco states that fossil fuels are responsible for wildfires, as well as climate change-related storms.
Californian officials said that these natural disasters already caused billions of dollars in damages. Governor Gavin Newsom said that the companies included in the lawsuit should be held accountable.
These firms include Chevron, Shell, Exxon Mobil, BP, and ConocoPhillips.
"For more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us - covering up the fact that they've long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet," said Newsom.
He added that the taxes paid by Californian residents should not be used for the damages caused by fossil fuels. These include record-breaking drought parching, deadly heat waves, air pollution, and wildfires.
Why California's Lawsuit is a Big Deal
CBS News reported that California's lawsuit against oil and gas companies is a big deal because it makes the U.S. state the first one to take these firms to court.
"It is time they pay to abate the harm they have caused. We will meet the moment and fight tirelessly on behalf of all Californians, in particular those who live in environmental justice communities," said Bonta.
Kassie Siegel, the Climate Law Institute at the Center for Biological Diversity's director, also explained the importance of civil legal action.
Siegel said that the lawsuit will help California to address climate change. The environmental expert added that the legal action seeks to stop big oil and gas companies from fooling the public when it comes to the effects of their activities.
Right now, California's lawsuit is seeking to force oil and gas companies to pay for the recovery efforts from wildfires and storms. You can click this link to learn more about this lawsuit.
