Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court Monday sounded skeptical about whether local governments can sue oil and gas companies in state court to recover costs incurred from climate change, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Billions of dollars could be at stake if a lawsuit filed by Boulder, Colorado is allowed to proceed.
Boulder officials argue that energy companies Suncor and ExxonMobil should bear part of the cost of disasters such as floods and wildfires because climate change is making them — and the economic damage they cause — worse.
Some justices worry that a costly tide of litigation will follow.
“Presumably, if you prevail, the next day, a municipality in every single state will file a lawsuit,” said Chief Justice John Roberts. “How do you think that will work out on the ground?”
