Climate Changed

Chevron, Oil Giants Lose Latest Fight Over Climate Jurisdiction

Photographer: Nicole Craine/Bloomberg
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California cities and counties seeking to hold five of the largest oil companies accountable for their contribution to climate change through a trio of lawsuits will make their case in California state court, a judge ruled Friday.

The decision, viewed by both sides as a defeat for Chevron, BP, Exxon, ConocoPhilips and Shell, creates a split among a pair of San Francisco federal judges over where the cases should be heard. State court is seen as more favorable to the cities and counties because there’s a federal precedent for climate law that would tip the scale in the oil companies’ favor.