State Climate Change Tort Tracker

Dozens of state, local and tribal governments have filed lawsuits accusing fossil fuel companies of concealing the climate change risks of their products and are seeking to put companies on the hook for climate-related infrastructure damages.


 State court has issued a ruling post-remand   State court case ongoing, no initial ruling yet   Currently in federal court 
State Case Claims asserted Status Latest Law360 coverage
--Graphics by Ben Jay

NEWS & ANALYSIS


High Court Case Looms Over State Climate Superfund Fights

September 01, 2026

By Keith Goldberg

A federal judge has dealt a blow to the viability of state climate change Superfund laws, although experts say the ruling may ultimately be marginalized by a looming U.S. Supreme Court decision on the future of climate tort litigation against fossil fuel companies.

NY's Landmark Climate Change Superfund Law Blocked

August 31, 2026

By Hailey Konnath

A New York federal judge Monday held that New York's Climate Change Superfund Act is preempted by federal law and cannot be enforced, saying the Clean Air Act does not authorize the Empire State to roll out its own emissions compensation scheme.

ConocoPhillips Can't Dodge Climate Torts, Wash. Tribes Say

August 28, 2026

By Rachel Riley

Two Native American tribes urged a Washington state judge Friday to preserve their climate change tort claims against ConocoPhillips, contending there's a "clear connection" between the oil company's Washington ties, its alleged actions downplaying the dangers of burning fossil fuels and the tribes' purported injuries.

Oil Cos. Insist High Court Must End Colo. Climate Suit

August 26, 2026

By Rae Ann Varona

Exxon and Suncor Energy argued Wednesday in their latest brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to end the city and county of Boulder, Colorado's climate change tort lawsuit against them that allowing the case to proceed would set a precedent that juries can make decisions on energy policy.

1st Circ. Urged Not To Revive Puerto Rico Climate RICO Suit

August 12, 2026

By Keith Goldberg

Fossil fuel companies have urged the First Circuit to uphold the dismissal of a racketeering and antitrust lawsuit from several Puerto Rico municipalities claiming the companies misrepresented the climate dangers of fossil fuel products in causing a pair of hurricanes.

9th Circ. Won't Revisit Kids' Suit Over Trump's Energy EOs

August 10, 2026

By Lauren Berg

The full Ninth Circuit on Monday declined to rehear a group of youths' legal challenge of President Donald Trump's executive orders spurring the use of fossil fuels to meet the country's energy needs.

Climate Change Suit Must Proceed, Boulder Tells High Court

July 28, 2026

By Keith Goldberg

The city and county of Boulder, Colorado, have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to let stand a Colorado Supreme Court decision allowing their climate change tort against Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy to proceed, arguing that the justices shouldn't short-circuit the state court proceedings.

Exxon Climate Suit Fate May Hinge On Preemption Precedent

July 20, 2026

By Aaron Keller

A Connecticut state judge on Monday seemed inclined to wait for upcoming U.S. Supreme Court preemption guidance before ruling on the state's attempt to nix one of Exxon Mobil's defenses in an environmental marketing lawsuit, though both sides drew some skepticism during oral argument Monday.

Oil Giants Can't Move Chicago's Climate Suit, 7th Circ. Says

July 15, 2026

By Rae Ann Varona

The Seventh Circuit on Wednesday kept the city of Chicago's climate deception suit against BP, Shell and other oil giants in Illinois state court, saying the oil companies could not lean on their fuel production for the federal government to remove the case to federal court.

Mich. Says DOJ Is Mischaracterizing Climate Antitrust Suit

July 14, 2026

By Melanie Dorsey

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has asked a federal judge for permission to respond to the U.S. Department of Justice's statement of interest supporting dismissal of key portions of the state's antitrust lawsuit against some of the world's largest oil companies, arguing the federal government's filing mischaracterizes the case and conflicts with its own public statements on antitrust enforcement. 

Exxon, Chevron Can't Exit Climate Suit Over Wash. Heat Death

July 09, 2026

By Rachel Riley

A Washington state judge said Wednesday that Exxon, Chevron and other oil giants must face a lawsuit over a death in a 2021 heat wave, distinguishing the case from other climate torts brought by cities and rejecting the companies' contention that the family of Juliana Leon is seeking to regulate global greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Litigation To Watch In The 2nd Half Of 2026

July 08, 2026

By Keith Goldberg

The energy litigation landscape for the rest of 2026 features high-profile lawsuits over climate change, including a potential moment of truth for climate tort litigation, as well as challenges to Trump administration efforts to boost fossil fuel development. Here are several energy-related lawsuits on attorneys' radar for the second half of the year.

4 Colorado Cases To Watch For The Rest Of 2026

July 08, 2026

By Rachel Konieczny

A federal judge's ruling on whether the Trump administration can move U.S. Space Command's headquarters from Colorado to Alabama and a jury's determination of liability for a private prison operator in a forced labor class action are among the Colorado court cases to watch in the coming months. Here, Law360 looks at four Colorado cases to watch for during the rest of 2026.

DOJ Says Mich. Climate Antitrust Claims Are Barred

June 30, 2026

By Melanie Dorsey

The U.S. Department of Justice has weighed in on Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's antitrust lawsuit against some of the world's largest oil companies, arguing much of the state's case is legally barred because Michigan is improperly attempting to regulate climate change through state antitrust law. 

Chevron's Climate Suit Comparison Meets Skeptical Judge

June 16, 2026

By Rachel Riley

A Washington state judge pushed back Tuesday after Chevron and other oil giants urged dismissal of a family's lawsuit over a 2021 heatwave death, saying this case differs from a host of failed climate torts because it focuses on a single fatality from a "very specific weather event."

9th Circ. Won't Recharge Kids' Suit Over Trump's Energy EOs

June 02, 2026

By Rachel Riley

A Ninth Circuit panel refused Tuesday to revive a group of youths' legal challenge of President Donald Trump's executive orders spurring the use of fossil fuels to meet the country's energy needs, concluding the plaintiffs "can only speculate" that the orders will trigger agency decisions that ultimately intensify climate change.

Minn. Wants 'Egregious' DOJ Bid To Nix Climate Suit Tossed

June 01, 2026

By Tom Lotshaw

Minnesota has told a federal judge the Trump administration recycled absurd standing theories rejected in other cases to support an "egregious" attempt to block the state's six-year-old consumer deception lawsuit against fossil fuel entities.

States Tell Justices Colo. Climate Suit Threatens Sovereignty

May 22, 2026

By Elaine Briseño

Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania and 23 other states urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that allowed local communities to pursue climate change damages under state law, arguing it jeopardizes states' constitutional right to govern themselves.

High Court Must End Colo. Climate Suit, Oil Cos. Say

May 14, 2026

By Ganesh Setty

Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil urged the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday to reverse a Colorado Supreme Court ruling allowing local communities to pursue state law tort claims for climate change damages, arguing their claims are "avowedly interstate and international in scope."

Judge Won't Pause Hawaii Climate Suit For High Court Review

May 07, 2026

By Elaine Briseño

A Hawaii state judge refused to pause Honolulu's climate change lawsuit against fossil fuel companies while the U.S. Supreme Court deliberates the future of a similar case lodged by Boulder, Colorado, saying the case is not federally preempted.