President Donald Trump’s executive order targeting state efforts to tackle global warming is adding a new wrinkle to a climate lawsuit in South Carolina.
Circuit Judge Roger Young last month asked both parties in the case — the city of Charleston and the oil and gas companies it has accused of causing climate change — to share their thoughts about what effect Trump’s measure may have on the case.
In a joint response filed Monday, the parties took opposing views on how the executive order that seeks to curtail state climate efforts would affect the lawsuit. Charleston’s suit, launched in 2020 against 24 oil supermajors including Exxon Mobil and Chevron, is one of several dozen cases filed by cities, counties and states that are seeking compensation for the costs of climate change. The lawsuits could cost the companies billions of dollars, if successful.
Lawyers for the city noted that the executive order asks Attorney General Pam Bondi to identify all state and local policies and practices that put a burden on domestic energy production or use.
