Hawaii Sues Major Oil Companies Over Climate Change, Exempts Largest Local Refinery

The State of Hawaii has filed a significant lawsuit against a dozen major oil companies and the American Petroleum Institute, accusing them of causing climate change impacts such as higher temperatures, sea level rise, flooding, and coastal erosion, and seeking hundreds of millions in damages. However, the lawsuit notably excludes Houston-based Par Pacific and its subsidiary Par Hawaii, which operate the state's only petroleum refinery and are the largest local suppliers of gasoline and jet fuel. This exclusion has raised questions about political favoritism, as Par and its executives have donated significant sums to Democratic politicians in Hawaii, including Governor Josh Green. Meanwhile, Hawaii lawmakers are encouraging insurance companies to sue the oil and gas industry for climate damages to shift costs away from consumers and toward polluters who engaged in deceptive practices. The city and county of Honolulu are pushing forward with their climate tort claims against energy companies, arguing they are timely and should proceed to trial despite oil companies seeking summary judgment to dismiss the case. The situation highlights the complex interplay of legal, political, and environmental factors in Hawaii's efforts to address climate change through litigation and policy initiatives.