A New Jersey judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the state against ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Phillips 66, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute, ruling that the claims need to be decided in federal court.
What happened?
The state of New Jersey originally filed the suit in 2022 against the major oil companies, alleging that they were greenwashing their businesses, contributing to the warming of the planet, and spreading misinformation.
In the suit, the state claimed that the oil companies had been “inflating and sustaining the market for fossil fuels, which — in turn — drove up greenhouse gas emissions, accelerated global warming , and brought about devastating climate change impacts to the State of New Jersey.”
The judge said in his decision that the claims are “entirely about addressing the injuries of global climate change and seeking damages for such alleged injuries.” His official ruling was that New Jersey’s claims are preempted by federal common law and that a state law can’t govern something as widespread as the changing climate.
Why is it important?
Companies engaging in greenwashing often lie or exaggerate that their products or business operations aren’t harming the environment and may even be good for it. They do this through clever buzzword marketing, omitting key details, and other sneaky tactics…