The US Constitution and laws do not protect oil companies from being sued over the harm they cause to the climate

Calls for the Supreme Court to give fossil fuel companies immunity from liability for climate-related damage misreads the Constitution, precedent and the role of courts.

By: Alejandro E. Camacho, University of California, Los Angeles and Robert Glicksman, George Washington University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: May 21, 2026

Words: 1,451

Last Updated: 2 months ago

Body Text Preview

By Alejandro E. Camacho, University of California, Los Angeles and Robert Glicksman, George Washington University

In recent years, at least two dozen local and state governments have sued petroleum companies to recover the billions in costs they have incurred responding to and rebuilding after flooding, storms and wildfires – all of which have been worsened by changes to the climate resulting from burning fossil fuels.

Most of these lawsuits, often filed in …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us