The U.S Supreme Court denied a plea by fossil fuel companies to move a Delaware lawsuit to federal court.
The suit claims that oil and gas companies hid evidence that their operations would lead to potentially severe climate change. The companies denied the allegations and pointed to a continued reduction in emissions.
The case will head back to the Superior Court of Delaware, where the suit was originally filed.
The order also sends a similar case against fossil fuel companies filed by the City of Hoboken, NJ, back to New Jersey state court.
The U.S Court of Appeals had earlier rejected an appeal filed by fossil fuel companies.
“We appreciate and agree with the Court’s order denying the fossil fuel companies’ petition, which aligns with dozens of decisions in federal courts here in Delaware and across the country. As we stated at the time of filing this case almost three years ago, “It didn’t have to be this way,” stated Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “The fossil fuel industry knew for decades that their products would lead to climate change with potentially “severe” and even “catastrophic” consequences — their words, not ours. But they didn’t clean up their practices or warn anyone to minimize the peril they were creating. Instead, they spent decades deliberately and systematically deceiving the nation about what they knew would happen if they carried on with business as usual.” Imagine how far along we might be in the transition to a low carbon economy today if not for their deception. That’s why we filed our lawsuit, and today’s order moves Delawareans one step closer to the justice and economic relief that we deserve.”
