Maine has become the latest state to take legal action against major oil companies, including ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Chevron, and others, accusing them of deceiving the public about the role of fossil fuels in climate change. The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday by Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey, seeks to hold these companies accountable for the devastating effects that global warming could have on the state’s communities, fishing industries, and tourism sector.
The suit, filed in Cumberland County Superior Court, alleges that these oil companies knew for decades that their fossil fuel products would contribute to climate change and rising sea levels. Despite this knowledge, the companies are accused of launching misleading public relations campaigns to downplay the impact of their activities, protecting their profits while putting the state’s coastal communities at risk.
This action marks Maine as the ninth state to file such a lawsuit, following similar legal actions taken by cities, counties, and tribes across the country. The lawsuit names major oil corporations such as ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, Sunoco, and industry groups including the American Petroleum Institute (API).
Maine, known for its picturesque coastline and vibrant tourism and fishing industries, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The lawsuit argues that the state’s 3,478 miles of coastline face a heightened risk due to rising sea levels. With many of Maine’s communities and industries concentrated along the coast, the potential for significant economic loss is high, including damage to the state’s critical fishing and tourism sectors.
“Maine’s communities and economy are already feeling the effects of climate change, from coastal erosion to more frequent and severe weather events. The oil companies knew about the risks of their actions for decades, yet they chose to mislead the public and prioritize profits,” said Attorney General Frey. “For over half a century, these companies chose to fuel profits instead of following the science that could have prevented the irreversible, catastrophic impacts we are now facing.”
The lawsuit accuses the oil companies of creating both public and private nuisances by contributing to the environmental damage that threatens the state. Additionally, the companies are charged with negligence, failure to warn the public about the long-term environmental consequences of fossil fuel consumption, and trespass. The complaint also asserts that these actions violate Maine’s consumer protection laws.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, as well as a court order requiring the defendants to take responsibility for mitigating the damage they have caused. Specifically, the state is seeking funds to help communities adapt to climate change, mitigate its effects, and enhance resilience to future environmental challenges.
While many states, cities, and municipalities have filed similar lawsuits in recent years, the cases have often been delayed by legal battles over whether they should be heard in state or federal courts. Companies like Chevron and Shell have consistently argued that climate change should be addressed through coordinated federal and international policy, rather than state-level litigation, which they argue is ineffective and misguided.
“The issue of climate change requires a global policy response, not meritless state court litigation that undermines the energy production industry,” said Theodore Boutrous, a lawyer for Chevron at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, in a statement regarding Maine’s lawsuit.
However, despite the legal challenges, Attorney General Frey remains determined to press the case forward, emphasizing the critical need for state and local governments to hold large corporations accountable for the harm they have caused.
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