New York sues Shell, BP and Exxonmobil over ‘misleading’ advertising

The New York City Council is suing Shell, BP and Exxonmobil for allegedly misinforming the city’s residents. The companies’ advertisements are misleading, according to New York. For example, Shell would have touted its fuels as clean and green, when in reality they are very polluting, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement.

De Blasio argues that the oil and gas companies are trying to convince consumers in their advertisements that they are fighting climate change with their products. With the advertising campaigns, the companies create the appearance that they have a green image and are at the forefront of sustainable policy, says a lawyer from the city council.

In 2018, New York tried to sue the same oil companies for the damage they caused to the environment and climate change. Then De Blasio tried to sue the five largest oil companies in the world and hold them accountable for their contribution to global warming because, according to the mayor, they deliberately refused to take measures to replace their polluting activities with more sustainable policies.

According to one of the judges who heard the case, he had no jurisdiction to judge international regulations. Moreover, it was up to politicians to bring the companies to order, he said. The court found the charges of the city council to be unfounded on two occasions. De Blasio does not give up his legal battle and hopes to get the companies convicted a third time.

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