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1.0 General CLE

Adapting to global warming is expensive. Identifying sources of revenue to pay for costly climate adaptations in a way that is just and equitable for California residents has become increasingly important, especially given additional pressure on state and local budgets from the ongoing pandemic. Litigation against fossil fuel producers is a growing trend in California and across the US that cities, counties, and states are using to shift the burden of climate adaptation costs from taxpayers to polluters and hold fossil fuel producers accountable for decades of documented public disinformation. Such suits have the potential not only to provide revenue for needed adaptation infrastructure but also to change the conversation regarding who is liable for damages arising from climate change. Scholarly, legal, and community voices will discuss the status of ongoing lawsuits brought by California cities and counties as well as the implications of recent jurisdictional decisions from the 9th and 4th circuits.

Sponsored by the Stanford Environmental & Natural Resources Law and Policy Program and the Center for Climate Integrity

Panelists:

• Ann Carlson, Professor, and Co-Director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law
• Sharon Eubanks, Chief Counsel, National Whistleblower Center 
• Dr. Kate Sears, Supervisor for Marin County
• Dr. Benjamin Franta (Moderator), Stanford JD-PhD student who studies the history of fossil fuel producers and climate science

Reading Materials:

1) Op-Ed: Why Big Oil fears being put on trial for climate change by Ann Carlson
2) Big Oil Loses Bid to Move California Climate Court Fight (2) by Ellen M. Gillmer
3) What’s Next for Each Climate Liability Suit by Karen Savage

Link to appellate decisions:
1) Ninth circuit (Oakland and San Francisco v BP et al.)
2) Ninth circuit (County of San Mateo v Chevron et al.)
3) Fourth circuit (Baltimore v BP et al.)