Honolulu Tries to Mug Energy Companies: The U.S. Supreme Court can put a stop to this dangerous and meritless lawsuit.
In the WSJ today, Richard Epstein and I urge the Supreme Court to take up a case brought by Honolulu against energy companies for the harms of global warming."Federal courts have limited the Biden administration’s authority to set nationwide standards regulating emissions from power plants. But some cities and states are pushing to meet stringent climate goals by other means. In October, the Hawaii Supreme Court allowed the city and county of Honolulu, along with the local water utility board, to claim that oil and gas companies failed to disclose the risks their products posed to the environment. As a result, the suit alleges, buyers overconsumed oil and gas, which caused excess emissions, which increased global temperatures, which caused sea levels to rise, which then damaged Honolulu."
Very thoughtful piece.