Maryland Supreme Court Reviews Local Governments’ Climate Change Lawsuits Against Oil Companies

The Maryland Supreme Court heard arguments on whether Baltimore, Annapolis, and Anne Arundel County can pursue lawsuits against major fossil fuel companies, alleging decades of deceptive practices about climate change impacts. The local governments claim these companies knowingly misled the public about global warming, contributing to severe local harms such as sea-level rise and extreme weather. The court justices expressed skepticism, particularly about the scope of the lawsuits potentially regulating interstate and international emissions, a domain usually reserved for federal authority. Lawyers for the cities emphasized the cases focus on consumer protection and local damages, citing similar rulings in Hawaii and Colorado where such suits were allowed to proceed. Fossil fuel company attorneys argued that the suits attempt to impose international regulations and are thus beyond state court jurisdiction. The decision will determine if Maryland joins other jurisdictions in allowing climate tort cases to move forward towards trial or if they will be dismissed as in many other states.