A New York State Supreme Court judge has dismissed the city’s lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, BP, and Shell, which accused the oil companies of misleading the public about their products and their role in fighting climate change.
On Tuesday, Justice Anar Patel ruled that New York City could not claim that its climate-conscious residents were misled by the oil companies’ marketing and failure to disclose the impact of fossil fuels on climate change. Patel stated that the city “cannot have it both ways,” rejecting the argument that the oil companies were responsible for “greenwashing” by promoting themselves as leaders in clean energy while continuing to sell fossil fuels.
Patel’s decision highlighted that the city failed to provide sufficient evidence that the companies engaged in misleading advertising or made false claims about their commitment to clean energy. The judge found that vague statements like Exxon’s claim that its fuel helps people drive “cleaner, smarter, and longer” were not enough to prove that the companies intentionally misled consumers or that their products had no connection to climate change.
New York City, with a population of approximately 8.3 million, had alleged that the companies falsely portrayed themselves as climate change leaders in their advertising, despite making minimal investments in renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The lawsuit sought civil fines and a stop to the companies’ alleged deceptive practices.
In a statement, Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesperson for the city’s law department, said the city was reviewing its options following the ruling. “Our complaint alleged that these defendants spent millions to mislead consumers to think that they, and their products, contribute to a clean energy future,” Paolucci stated. “New Yorkers deserve no less.”
Exxon responded to the ruling, expressing hope that political leaders would understand that “ideological hatred” toward the company does not mean they are guilty of wrongdoing. Shell declined to comment, and BP did not immediately respond.
This lawsuit is part of a broader trend in which U.S. state and local governments have pursued legal action against oil companies, seeking to hold them accountable for their role in climate change and the emission of greenhouse gases.
The case, City of New York v. Exxon Mobil Corp et al, was filed in April 2021, after the city’s earlier attempt to make oil companies pay for global warming costs was rejected by a federal appeals court. The American Petroleum Institute, a trade group representing oil companies, welcomed the decision, stating that climate policy should be determined by Congress, not through lawsuits.
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