Twenty years ago lawyers brought tobacco manufacturers to their knees with billion-dollar claims for damages—thus making an important contribution to curtailing smoking and improving public health. Similarly, now lawyers see possibilities for a major contribution to the fight against global warming with lawsuits against the oil companies. Several flood-prone municipalities in California recently filed first-of-their-kind lawsuits to make the fossil fuel industry pay for the damage as a result of the rising seas. Here’s an analysis of this upcoming legal battle and a link to our “The Courthouse Effect” feature from 10 years ago predicting this development.
Tobacco-style California climate lawsuits can stimulate clean energy revolution
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