{"id":2642080,"date":"2026-08-08T06:54:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/environmental-groups-urge-high-court-to-keep-costly-climate-change-lawsuits-alive\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T06:56:01","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T10:56:01","slug":"environmental-groups-urge-high-court-to-keep-costly-climate-change-lawsuits-alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/environmental-groups-urge-high-court-to-keep-costly-climate-change-lawsuits-alive\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental groups urge high court to keep costly climate change lawsuits alive"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fenvironmental-groups-urge-high-court-to-keep-costly-climate-change-lawsuits-alive%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2642080&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Supreme Court will hear a significant case this fall that could perhaps block future lawsuits against oil companies over their alleged contribution to global climate change. Environmental groups and Democratic politicians are advocating for the lawsuits to continue,arguing that they highlight the environmental damages caused by fossil fuel companies. The case,Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, is set to begin its oral arguments in October and could have broad implications for similar climate litigation conducted by activists and jurisdictions aligned wiht climate action.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters of Boulder County\u2019s case, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and legal advocates like Our Children\u2019s Trust, argue that the science behind climate change is clear and that the lawsuits serve an essential role in holding polluters accountable. They contend that federal law,specifically the Clean Air act,does not preclude such claims and that state courts should be trusted to manage these disputes.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, opponents such as the Justice Department, certain oil companies, and conservative groups argue that these lawsuits are barred by federal law and should be dismissed. A coalition of former EPA officials also supports Boulder County, emphasizing that the Clean Air Act encourages states to implement their own regulations and that Boulder\u2019s claims do not conflict with federal objectives.<\/p>\n<p>This case marks the beginning of the Supreme Court\u2019s next term, which will feature other high-profile issues including the constitutionality of assault weapons bans and restrictions on Catholic preschools in Colorado. A ruling is expected in the following months, potentially shaping the federal government\u2019s and states&#8217; roles in climate and environmental regulation.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"203\">Supreme Court<\/a> will hear a major case this fall that could shut down costly lawsuits against oil companies over their alleged role in global <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/climate-change\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"289\">climate change<\/a>, and both environmental groups and Democratic politicians have urged the justices to keep those lawsuits alive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high court will hear arguments in <em>Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4675555\/supreme-court-next-term-cases-climate-immigration\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4675555\/supreme-court-next-term-cases-climate-immigration\/\">to begin its term<\/a> in October, with the case set to have sweeping ramifications for similar lawsuits that climate activists and Democratic-led jurisdictions have attempted to bring against oil companies, either allowing them to proceed or shutting them down as barred by federal law. The Justice Department, oil companies, and various conservative groups have <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4579270\/supreme-court-climate-change-boulder-conservatives\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4579270\/supreme-court-climate-change-boulder-conservatives\/\">asked the high court<\/a> to shut down these lawsuits, while various left-wing groups have urged the Supreme Court to consider the environmental harms at the center of the lawsuits and allow them to proceed.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4679060\/environmental-groups-urge-supreme-court-keep-costly-climate-change-lawsuits-alive\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Environmental groups urge Supreme Court to keep costly climate change lawsuits alive<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4679631\/trump-180-million-grants-mining-education\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump reveals $180 million in grants to expand mining education<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4679310\/watch-live-trump-roundtable-mining-weapons-stockpiles\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>WATCH LIVE: Trump participates in roundtable on mining<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, argued in its brief in support of Boulder County that the argument advanced by the oil companies, that individualized contributions to global climate change cannot be identified and quantified, is untrue. The NRDC also advises that the court allow the case to proceed, so that Boulder County\u2019s merits arguments can be presented.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Court should disregard Petitioners\u2019 mischaracterization of the science and affirm the Colorado Supreme Court\u2019s decision if it does not dismiss for lack of jurisdiction,\u201d the NRDC <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/25\/25-170\/417916\/20260803125632135_Suncor%20Amicus%208.3%20-%20Final.pdf\">brief<\/a> said. \u201cBoulder should have an opportunity to proceed to the merits of its case and show that its harms are attributable to Petitioners\u2019 greenhouse gas emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our Children\u2019s Trust, a left-wing law group that specializes in climate litigation, filed a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/25\/25-170\/417919\/20260803130043205_2026.08.02.Suncor%20Amicus.Final.pdf\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/25\/25-170\/417919\/20260803130043205_2026.08.02.Suncor%20Amicus.Final.pdf\">brief<\/a> to the high court emphasizing the harm that wildfires and other natural disasters, which they claim are fueled by global climate change, can have on children globally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYouth Amici have experienced firsthand the devastating toll that wildfires and smoke take on their community. They know climate change makes such fires more likely and more destructive. Beyond wildfires, climate change is also causing dangerous<br \/>heat, extreme precipitation events, drought, low snowpack, and other climate instability throughout Boulder. Heat and poor air quality take a toll on Youth Amici\u2019s bodies, forcing them to miss school, work, or cancel plans with family and friends,\u201d the group said in their brief.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A coalition of Democrat-led states, led by Colorado and California, urged the Supreme Court to side with Boulder County to uphold that state climate laws are not preempted by federal law, and therefore the lawsuit may go forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cConcerns regarding the merits of Boulder\u2019s suit are not a valid basis for preempting state common law tort claims. State common law provides not only remedies for injured parties, but also protections for alleged tortfeasors, such as proximate cause, allocation of fault, foreseeability, and others. State courts should be trusted to faithfully apply the law, and any suggestion that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >merits concerns justify preempting state common law claims<\/a> should be rejected,\u201d the brief said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf Boulder\u2019s claims are meritless, state courts can dismiss them on that basis. Preemption is not the answer,\u201d the brief reads.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Boulder County has also received support from a coalition of former Environmental Protection Agency administrators and other former EPA officials, who argued that the Clean Air Act should not foreclose any climate lawsuits in state courts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe central purpose of the Act is to reduce air pollution to protect public health and welfare. Far from vesting the EPA with exclusive federal control over all emissions, the Act expressly provides for a significant state role in devising additional mechanisms for helping to achieve that broad public policy goal,\u201d the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/25\/25-170\/417905\/20260803123508007_25-170.Amicus_Brief.Former_EPA_Administrators_et_al..pdf\">brief<\/a> said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIndeed, every major program under the Act is structured to permit the EPA to set minimum emission standards or controls, while in most instances authorizing the states to regulate those same emissions more stringently,\u201d the brief continued. Boulder\u2019s claims, which principally target Suncor\u2019s allegedly deceptive and tortious sales conduct, pose no obstacle to the statutory goals and structure.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4675555\/supreme-court-next-term-cases-climate-immigration\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4675555\">SUPREME COURT TO OPEN NEXT TERM WITH MAJOR CLIMATE CHANGE CASE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the <em>Suncor<\/em> case on Oct. 5 at 10 a.m., with a ruling expected by the high court in the succeeding months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Suncor<\/em> case will be the first oral arguments of the Supreme Court\u2019s next term, which will include several high-profile cases, including the constitutionality of state <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4655258\/assault-weapons-bans-on-their-way-to-supreme-court\/\">\u201cassault weapons\u201d bans<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4649867\/supreme-court-colorado-catholic-preschool-case-implications\/\">Colorado barring Catholic preschools<\/a> from its universal preschool program.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Supreme Court to hear key climate lawsuit case this fall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2642081,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP22182791483255.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[51667,32659,38300,32610,34319],"class_list":["post-2642080","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-climate-change-2","tag-environmental-activism","tag-environmental-law","tag-high-court","tag-legal-battles"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP22182791483255.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2642080","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2642080"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2642080\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2642084,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2642080\/revisions\/2642084"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2642081"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2642080"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2642080"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2642080"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}