Oil Producers Succeed In California Climate Change Action

On June 25, 2018, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed a claim against several oil and gas producers for impacts relating to climate change in The City of Oakland v. BP, Chevron and Others, No. 17-CV-0611 (N.D. Cal. June 25, 2018) [Oakland]. The plaintiffs, the Cities of Oakland and San Francisco, sought billions of dollars against defendants Chevron Corporation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, BP p.l.c., Royal Dutch Shell plc and ConocoPhillips on the grounds that the defendants have been large contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which cause rising sea levels resulting in coastal flooding in these cities. The plaintiffs are proceeding under a federal public nuisance action to obtain an abatement fund to combat the flooding.