U.S. Supreme Court to hear climate change litigation case

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in Suncor v. Boulder County Commissioners on October 5. The Colorado-based case examines whether state and local governments can pursue financial claims against international energy companies for their contributions to climate change.

Boulder County officials are utilizing state nuisance laws to seek damages for harms caused by global climate change. Their legal team argued, “There is no constitutional bar to states addressing in-state harms caused by out-of-state conduct.”

In response, lawyers for the energy company contend that the Clean Air Act protects companies from litigation regarding emissions that cross state lines. They argued that seeking damages for physical harms from global emissions acts as “an indirect method of regulating interstate and international emissions.” The ruling could significantly impact the regulation of interstate commerce and future climate-related legal actions.