The New York city government has started a lawsuit against oil companies Shell, BP and ExxonMobil, it announced on Thursday. The city wants companies to pay for the damage caused by climate change because they have consistently lied about how polluting their oil products are.
The major oil companies, also known as Big Oil, and their advocate American Petroleum Institute (API) “have systematically and deliberately misled consumers,” writes the city government. For example, the companies would have said that their fuels are cleaner and that they produce fewer harmful substances. Those claims are not justified, according to the New York board.
News of the lawsuit comes out on Earth Day, a day that reflects on the effects of climate change. “My message on Earth Day to Big Oil is: we’ll see you in court,” said Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York.
It is not the first time the city has tried to hold oil companies responsible for the damage caused by climate change. The city council also went to court in 2018.
After a court rejection that same year, a ‘no’ again came out earlier this month. However, De Blasio does not want to accept that judgment and is now taking the companies to court again.
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