Puerto Rico files $1 billion lawsuit against fossil fuel companies

Puerto Rico filed a lawsuit against fossil fuel companies this week, alleging that the oil and gas giants have misled the public about climate change and delayed the transition to clean energy. The lawsuit seeks $1 billion in compensation to help Puerto Rico defend itself against climate disasters.

On a complaint filed yesterday in San Juan, Puerto Rico’s Department of Justice claims the companies violated trade law by promoting fossil fuels without adequately warning about the dangers. Defendants include ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, ConocoPhillips and other energy companies.

It’s the latest in a a series of lawsuits trying to hold fossil fuel companies responsible for the consequences of climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels are driving storms and other extreme weather events, while rising sea levels destroy island coasts. Fossil fuel companies knew for decades that their products would cause global warming and, anyway, they continued to work as usual, numerous studies and investigations to have found.

In the complaint, Puerto Rico says it expects to pay billions of dollars in the future to deal with disasters made worse by climate change — including storms like Hurricane Maria, which killed thousands of people in 2017 and caused power cuts that lasted months.

The lawsuit asks the defendants to contribute to a fund that would be used to mitigate the consequences of climate change and pay for measures to strengthen Puerto Rico’s infrastructure against future climate-related calamities.

BP declined to comment on the lawsuit. Other multinational energy companies named in the lawsuit did not immediately respond On the edge.

“It is more important than ever that policymakers stand up to the fossil fuel industry on behalf of their communities. The people of Puerto Rico deserve a day in court to hold Big Oil accountable,” Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity, which monitors climate cases and provides legal support, said in an emailed statement.