The Climate Docket

WHAT WE COVER:

  • Liability Litigation
    • Baltimore Lawsuit
    • California Climate Lawsuits
    • Colorado Lawsuit
    • Mass. v. Exxon
    • New York City Lawsuit
    • Rhode Island Lawsuit
    • Other Suits
  • Access to Courts
    • Liability Waivers
    • State Legislation
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Powered by Genesis

You are here: Home / Liability Litigation / New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies
New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies

New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies

January 10, 2018 Filed Under: Liability Litigation, New York City Lawsuit

print
By Karen Savage

New York City is suing five major oil companies, becoming the latest in a growing number of municipalities attempting to hold the industry accountable for damages caused by climate change.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio will announce in a press conference Wednesday afternoon the suit against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell, the five largest investor-owned fossil fuel companies as measured by their contributions to global warming. He will also announce that the city will divest its pension funds of $5 billion in fossil fuel investments.

“New York City is standing up for future generations by becoming the first major U.S. city to divest our pension funds from fossil fuels,” de Blasio said in a statement. “At the same time, we’re bringing the fight against climate change straight to the fossil fuel companies that knew about its effects and intentionally misled the public to protect their profits. As climate change continues to worsen, it’s up to the fossil fuel companies whose greed put us in this position to shoulder the cost of making New York safer and more resilient.”

The city will seek billions in damages to cover infrastructure improvements needed to protect New Yorkers from the increasing effects of climate change. The city has already begun implementing a $20 billion climate resiliency plan to protect city infrastructure from rising seas and extreme weather.

Now New York wants to shift the burden of protecting the city from climate change impacts back onto the companies it says have overwhelmingly caused the crisis.

When Superstorm Sandy hit New York City in 2012, it killed 43 people, caused $19 billion in damages and flooded nearly 90,000 buildings. Two million residents were left without power and 6,500 patients had to be evacuated from hospitals and nursing homes.  It drove home the city’s vulnerability to climate impacts and de Blasio made climate action a big part of his initial campaign for mayor in 2012.

“This is what climate leadership looks like,” Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, said in a statement after Wednesday’s announcement. “To confront the climate crisis, we must hold corporate polluters accountable in the streets, in the boardrooms, and in the courts.”

In the complaint, New York—which has a coastline longer than the coastlines of Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco combined—says it now faces further threats to its property, infrastructure and to the health and safety of its residents.

The city is asking for $19 billion for projects already underway, as well as additional costs for unfunded projects and projects that would not be so urgently needed if not for climate change.

The complaint notes that the fossil fuel defendants have already been “taking climate change impacts into account when planning for and building their own operations and infrastructure,” but continue to “double down on the production of massive amounts of oil and natural gas, and encourage consumers to use unlimited amounts of fossil fuel products, despite having known for decades that this conduct was substantially certain to cause grave harm, including by putting coastal cities like New York City on the front lines of climate disaster.”

A recent study found that by 2030 New York’s 8.5 million people could experience Sandy-like flooding every five years and a report compiled in 2015 by the second New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC) found temperature, precipitation and sea level rise are increasing in the city.

Climate science has overwhelmingly linked rising sea levels, increased temperatures and increased precipitation events to global warming.

“The burning of fossil fuels is the single largest contributor to human-caused climate change,” said Dan Zarrilli, senior director of Climate Policy and Programs and chief resilience officer for the mayor’s office.

“This simple fact was denied and buried for decades by fossil fuel companies. Today, New York City is ending that decades old pattern of deception and denial by holding these fossil fuel companies to account for the damage they’ve caused.”

According to the NPCC, mean annual temperature increased 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit from 1900 to 2013 and mean annual precipitation increased by eight inches over the same period.

Sea levels in New York City rose 1.2 inches per decade since 1900, nearly twice the global rate. The trend is expected to continue and according to the NPCC report, “projections for sea level rise in New York City are 11 to 21 inches by the 2050s, 18 to 39 inches by the 2080s, and could reach as high as 6 feet by 2100.”

When announcing a new city mandate in September that existing buildings cut greenhouse gas emissions, Mayor de Blasio underscored the urgency of addressing climate change.

“It’s important that we feel that we are fighting this crisis like our lives depend on it, because in fact they do. It’s a life or death matter,” said de Blasio.

“The next storm is out there – it’s not a matter of if, but when.”

The initial reaction from industry backers was to criticize de Blasio’s “politicization” of climate change.

“Mayor de Blasio is just the latest mayor to lead his city into misguided litigation against America’s energy manufacturers,” Linda Kelly of the National Association of Manufacturers said in a statement. “The mayor’s decision to play politics with underfunded pension plans and sue U.S. energy manufacturers is the same divisive approach we’ve seen fail time and again. Similar to recent lawsuits in California, this headline-seeking stunt is an absurd attempt to politicize natural disasters, rather than a good-faith effort at securing meaningful change.”

Exxon and the American Petroleum Institute did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

“I think tobacco now is important—it did take a while, for sure, but there was tremendous material positive impact from those lawsuits, real damages paid and those were used to have a real positive impact on public health,” said de Blasio, who added that while the city’s litigation could take years, like tobacco litigation, it has the potential to bring about a shift in the public’s understanding of the risks of climate change.

De Blasio also said while the New York suit is a little different that those others might file, he encouraged other cities, both in the U.S. and elsewhere, to pursue legal action.

Climate advocates quickly cheered New York’s move.

“New York City’s impressive leadership makes me hopeful for the future, and the possibilities we have for addressing climate change from the city and state level,” Annie Leonard, executive director of Greenpeace USA, said in a statement. “New York City’s actions today should be a galvanizing moment for cities around the world, and others should follow suit with ambitious plans and lawsuits of their own.”

Activist and author Naomi Klein believes that is exactly what will happen, that other cities will be emboldened by New York’s move.

“Bullying isn’t going to work here the way it has in the past,” she said. “This lawsuit is coming from the largest city in the most powerful country on the planet, the city that also happens to be the financial capital of the world.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Liability Litigation, New York City Lawsuit

Don't Miss a story
Subscribe 
We promise not to spam you. Unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.

Trackbacks

  1. Exxon, BP, Chevron Should Pay for Climate Costs, NY Says | Perry Chavers says:
    January 10, 2018 at 12:20 pm

    […] New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies  Climate Liability News […]

  2. New York City files climate lawsuit against five biggest oil companies | Transition Studies says:
    January 10, 2018 at 12:21 pm

    […] https://www.climatedocket.com/2018/01/10/new-york-city-climate-lawsuit-liability-bill-de-blas… […]

  3. Exxon, BP, Chevron Should Pay for Climate Costs, NY Says – Harry Sullivan says:
    January 10, 2018 at 12:24 pm

    […] New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies  Climate Liability News […]

  4. New York City to Announce Climate Lawsuit Against Oil Companies | The home of all your replacment parts needs! says:
    January 10, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    […] New York City to Announce Climate Lawsuit Against Oil Companies  Climate Liability News […]

  5. Exxon launches legal retaliation for California climate suits says:
    January 10, 2018 at 2:11 pm

    […] New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies […]

  6. New York City to Announce Climate Lawsuit Against Oil Companies | Viral News says:
    January 10, 2018 at 4:13 pm

    […] Source link […]

  7. Next big climate lawsuit could come from Los Angeles says:
    January 13, 2018 at 10:54 am

    […] New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies […]

  8. New York City Will Divest Pension Funds (About 5 Billion) - Our Santa Fe River, Inc. says:
    January 14, 2018 at 7:23 am

    […] New York City is taking historic steps to address the very real dangers of climate change because when you are the mayor of a city surrounded by water like Mayor de Blasio, there is one thing you can bank on. […]

  9. Exxon argues First Amendment protects it from climate fraud probes says:
    January 16, 2018 at 3:13 pm

    […] New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies […]

  10. Exxon Continues First Amendment Defense in Climate Fraud Probes | | MassCentral BETA says:
    January 16, 2018 at 6:01 pm

    […] a website posting last week, Exxon denounced a recent climate change-related lawsuit filed against it by New York City and reiterated its climate change perspective. A video shared on the […]

  11. North Central Electric LeagueNew York City Will Divest Pension Funds from Fossil Fuel Companies - North Central Electric League says:
    January 22, 2018 at 4:13 pm

    […] New York City is taking historic steps to address the very real dangers of climate change because when you are the mayor of a city surrounded by water like Mayor de Blasio, there is one thing you can bank on. […]

  12. Richmond is latest California city to file climate lawsuit vs. Big Oil says:
    January 23, 2018 at 8:39 am

    […] New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies […]

  13. Climate liability cases 'as American as apple pie,' experts argue says:
    January 26, 2018 at 8:53 am

    […] New York City Files Climate Lawsuit Against Five Biggest Oil Companies […]

  14. As San Francisco, Oakland press climate cases, a legal nod to Kivalina says:
    February 8, 2018 at 11:46 am

    […] There are eight cities and counties in California that have filed these suits, all in state court. New York City is also suing Big Oil, while Los Angeles and Boulder, Colorado are considering following suit. […]

  15. Paris, inspired by NYC, considers suing oil companies for climate costs says:
    February 9, 2018 at 7:59 am

    […] month, New York City announced it was suing five major oil companies in federal court and divest the $5 billion its pension funds have invested in fossil fuel […]

  16. NYC & Paris sue Oil companies for #Climate costs. #auspol #qldpol #StopAdani | jpratt27 says:
    February 11, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    […] month, New York City announced it was suing five major oil companies in federal court and developing a plan to divest the $5 billion its pension funds have invested in […]

  17. Will Paris take oil and gas companies to court over climate change? | The Big Raise says:
    February 12, 2018 at 5:22 am

    […] month, New York City announced it was suing five major oil companies in federal court and developing a plan to divest the $5 billion its pension funds have […]

  18. In NYC, climate adaptation (and liability suit) in a race against time says:
    February 22, 2018 at 9:56 am

    […] that end, in January, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the suit against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell, seeking billions to pay for […]

  19. New York City Will Divest Pension Funds from Fossil Fuel Companies - The Energy Collective says:
    March 5, 2018 at 8:43 am

    […] New York City is taking historic steps to address the very real dangers of climate change because when you are the mayor of a city surrounded by water like Mayor de Blasio, there is one thing you can bank on. […]

  20. New Canadian bill would help cities sue oil industry for climate damages says:
    March 26, 2018 at 2:16 pm

    […] in the United States from New York City to California have filed climate-related suits against fossil fuel companies. Additionally, 21 […]

  21. Mobil chief acknowledged climate change issue 20 years ago says:
    April 3, 2018 at 1:29 pm

    […] against ExxonMobil for contributing to climate change, particularly in public nuisance claims by New York City and several municipalities in […]

  22. Netherlands group to Shell: Stop wrecking the climate or we will sue says:
    April 4, 2018 at 1:06 pm

    […] from Shell, which is the model used in climate suits filed against fossil fuel companies by New York City and several California […]

  23. Colorado communities file climate lawsuits vs. two oil companies says:
    April 17, 2018 at 3:41 pm

    […] Colorado communities—like coastal communities in California and New York City—are demanding that fossil fuel companies help pay for the costs associated with climate change […]

  24. Industry group asks SEC to investigate cities' climate lawsuits says:
    May 1, 2018 at 3:19 pm

    […] More communities, such as San Francisco,  Oakland and Richmond, followed suit. New York City sued in […]

  25. Battle lines drawn for New York climate lawsuit vs. Big Oil says:
    May 11, 2018 at 11:04 am

    […] York, which sued the five biggest oil companies in January, promptly responded with an opposition to the motion. It rejects all of the oil […]

  26. Water is Everywhere in Georgetown, Guyana—Our Disrespect for it will Kill Us – The Nature of Cities says:
    May 27, 2018 at 8:36 am

    […] slow suicide by drowning. But it doesn’t have to end like that. Other cities are fighting back. New York and San Francisco are suing the oil companies for harm from climate change. Arnold Schwarzenegger […]

  27. NYC climate case draws now-familiar opposition from Republican AGs says:
    June 6, 2018 at 8:00 am

    […] York filed suit against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell in January, asking for […]

  28. NYC climate case belongs in court, libertarian think tank argues says:
    June 11, 2018 at 9:52 am

    […] York filed suit in federal court in January, asking for damages to cover infrastructure improvements needed to […]

  29. Judge throws out New York City climate lawsuit against 5 major oil giants – ThinkProgress – Latest India News Today | Top News Stories & Headlines says:
    July 19, 2018 at 4:33 pm

    […] York City’s lawsuit, announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio, argued that the companies continue to “double down on the production of […]

  30. Judge throws out New York City climate lawsuit against 5 major oil giants – Feed Campus says:
    July 19, 2018 at 6:12 pm

    […] York City’s lawsuit, announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio, argued that the companies continue to “double down on the production of […]

  31. Judge throws out New York City climate lawsuit against 5 major oil giants | Mr.Growth says:
    July 19, 2018 at 11:21 pm

    […] York City’s lawsuit, announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio, argued that the companies continue to “double down on the production of […]

  32. NYC files appeal, challenges dismissal of climate liability suit says:
    November 12, 2018 at 7:21 pm

    […] York’s suit, filed in January against Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell, sought billions in damages to […]

  33. NYC climate suit draws support from governments, law expert says:
    November 16, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    […] York filed suit against Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell in January, seeking billions in damages to cover infrastructure improvements needed to protect New Yorkers from the increasing […]

  34. Oil industry ally accuses NY attorney general of ethics violations says:
    December 10, 2018 at 11:59 am

    […] securities fraud, and a friend-of-the-court brief supporting New York City’s climate liability suit against five major oil […]

  35. 2018 in climate liability: When a trend became a wave says:
    December 30, 2018 at 10:09 pm

    […] liability lawsuits exploded onto the world stage in 2018—a year that began with New York City suing five oil majors and ended with France facing a potential lawsuit for failing to make climate progress and the […]

  36. Paris pourrait lancer des procès contre les sociétés pétrolières à cause du changement climatique | The Big Raise says:
    January 10, 2019 at 4:46 am

    […] month, New York City announced it was suing five major oil companies in federal court and developing a plan to divest the $5 billion its pension funds have […]

  37. Oil companies fighting NYC climate suit ignore liability issue says:
    February 11, 2019 at 3:09 pm

    […] five oil and gas companies sued by New York City last year over climate change-related damages doubled down on their argument that courts should not be in the […]

  38. New York says climate suit about protecting residents, not emissions says:
    March 27, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    […] York filed its lawsuit suit against BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell in January 2018, […]

  39. New York Says Climate Suit About Protecting Residents, Not Regulating Emissions | Rapid Shift says:
    May 30, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    […] York filed its lawsuit suit against BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell in January 2018, […]

  40. New York Says Climate Suit About Protecting Residents, Not Regulating Emissions | Rapid Shift says:
    August 12, 2019 at 5:30 pm

    […] York filed its lawsuit suit against BP, ConocoPhillips, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell in January 2018, […]

  41. NYC to appeals court: Climate case does not seek to regulate emissions says:
    November 22, 2019 at 2:51 pm

    […] York, which filed its lawsuit in 2018 against BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell, is seeking billions […]

  42. Climate Liability Suits: The Trend to State Courts Gains Momentum - The Climate Docket says:
    June 6, 2020 at 1:27 pm

    […] pending is an appeal by New York City, which unlike most, filed its suit in federal court, charging BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Royal Dutch Shell […]

  43. Chevron: California Ruling Should Not Help NYC Revive Its Liability Suit - The Climate Docket says:
    June 18, 2020 at 12:52 pm

    […] city, which is seeking billions in damages to cover infrastructure improvements needed to protect its residents from the increasing […]

Don't Miss a story
Subscribe 
We promise not to spam you. Unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.

Latest News

Justice Dept. to Argue on Side of Oil Companies in Supreme Court Hearing

By Karen Savage The acting solicitor general will be allowed time to argue in support of ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP and nearly two dozen other companies next week during oral arguments before … [Read More...]

Recent Posts

  • Colorado Judge Rejects Oil Companies’ Attempt to Move Climate Case
  • Biden’s DOJ Could Help Swing Momentum Around Climate Cases
  • Supreme Court Questions Oil Companies’ Tactics to Shake Climate Cases
  • Will Amy Coney Barrett, Whose Father Was a Shell Attorney for Decades, Recuse from Climate Suit?

Most Popular

  • BP Accused of 'Greenwashing' and Deceiving Public With Renewable Energy Ads
  • Judge Agrees to Divest from Exxon Before New York's Climate Fraud Case
  • Youth Climate Case in Washington State Dismissed by King County Judge
  • Battling for Big Oil: Manufacturing Trade Group Leads Assault on Climate Suits
  • What Oil Companies Knew About Climate Change and When: A Timeline

Categories

  • Access to Courts
  • Baltimore Lawsuit
  • California Climate Lawsuits
  • Charleston, S.C. Lawsuit
  • Colorado Lawsuit
  • Connecticut Lawsuit
  • Delaware Lawsuit
  • Exxon Climate Investigation
  • Featured
  • Hoboken Lawsuit
  • International
  • Latest News
  • Liability Litigation
  • Liability Waivers
  • Mass. v. Exxon
  • Minnesota Lawsuit
  • New York City Lawsuit
  • Other Suits
  • Politics
  • Rhode Island Lawsuit
  • State Legislation
  • Uncategorized
  • Washington DC Lawsuit

Follow us

  • View climatedocket’s profile on Facebook
  • View climatedocket’s profile on Twitter

RSS

RSS Feed RSS - Posts

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.