Supreme Court wrestles with who should pay for climate change

The United States Supreme Court began its 2026-2027 term on Monday by hearing a climate change lawsuit. The case, initiated by Boulder, Colorado, seeks to hold fossil fuel companies ExxonMobil and Suncor financially accountable for the costs associated with a warming planet.

This litigation is part of a broader legal trend involving dozens of similar lawsuits filed by local governments across the country. These cases collectively aim to determine whether private energy corporations should bear the economic burden of climate-related damages.