Climate Adaptation

Making Big Oil Pay for Climate Change May Be Impossible

Across America, cities and states are using the courts to force energy companies to address the damage done by fossil fuels. It’s not going well.

Illustration: Kevin Hong
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Exxon Mobil dodged a bullet last month when a judge rejected a novel climate-change lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general. The case began with a promise from state officials that there would be a historic reckoning for the fossil fuel giant.

It ended ignominiously as a failed accounting fraud claim.