DOJ Urges Supreme Court to Block Dozens of State Climate Suits Seeking Billions
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Sep 14
DOJ Urges Supreme Court to Block Dozens of State Climate Suits Seeking Billions
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Sep 14
Summary
Early October arguments will put the Trump administration alongside ExxonMobil, Chevron and Suncor Energy in asking the Supreme Court to halt dozens of state lawsuits over climate damages.
DOJ says those cases intrude on the federal government's authority over climate policy, even as the administration rescinds federal climate rules and narrows EPA's role.
Adam Gustafson, who leads DOJ's energy division, said the department sees no contradiction, arguing there are multiple legal paths for the federal government to prevail.
Lee Zeldin defended the broader rollback Monday, saying Congress deliberately excluded climate from the Clean Air Act — a stance that could complicate DOJ's claim that federal law occupies the field.
If the justices intervene, they could blunt state efforts to make oil companies pay billions for alleged contributions to climate change and reshape the balance between state and federal climate authority.