Question of whether taxpayers or fossil fuel companies pay for climate change damage heads to Supreme Court

People living in Boulder County, Colo., have experienced wildfires, flooding and other climate-related disasters. Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images Climate change is causing billions of dollars’ worth of damage every year from floods, fires, droughts and other consequences of a rapidly warming pl…

Résumé

Climate damage costs

Climate change causes billions of dollars in damage annually from events like floods, fires, and droughts.

For example, the U.S.

National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) tracks these costs, which have risen significantly in recent years.

Local governments—such as states, cities, counties, and tribes—are suing major oil companies like Exxon and Suncor, demanding reimbursement for recovery efforts, reconstruction, and protective measures against climate-related disasters.

These lawsuits argue that fossil fuel companies knew their products contributed to climate change but hid this information from the public.

Internal company scientists at Exxon and others had accurately predicted global temperature increases as early as the 1970s and warned that reducing fossil fuel use was necessary to avoid severe warming.

Instead of informing the public, these companies funded groups that denied climate science and delayed transitions away from fossil fuels.

The total costs borne by taxpayers and communities are substantial, with local governments spending millions on adaptation and recovery efforts.