A New York Supreme Court judge dismissed New York City’s lawsuit against major energy companies on Tuesday, ruling that the city’s arguments were contradictory. Justice Anar Patel rejected claims that Exxon Mobil, BP, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute misled the public about their role in climate change.
Patel stated the city could not claim New Yorkers were aware of the connection between fossil fuels and climate change while also alleging they were misled by energy companies. She also found no evidence of a deliberate “greenwashing” campaign to deceive consumers.
New York City’s lawsuit was one of several similar cases filed in Democrat-led jurisdictions seeking compensation from energy companies for climate change-related damages. The city argued that the defendants misrepresented their products as part of a clean energy future, but Patel’s ruling undercut that argument. A spokesman for the city’s law department said the city is reviewing its legal options following the dismissal.
The ruling follows a trend of courts rejecting climate litigation aimed at holding energy companies financially accountable for environmental impacts. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a related lawsuit brought by Honolulu. Critics argue these lawsuits risk undermining federalism and U.S. energy security, warning they could create inconsistent regulations across states and jurisdictions.
Proponents of the lawsuits argue they are necessary to hold corporations accountable for their environmental impact, but decisions like Patel’s highlight the legal challenges in advancing such claims.
