Fossil fuel industry defendants filed a motion in New Jersey state court to dismiss the City of Hoboken’s claims seeking to hold them liable for the effects of climate change. They first argued that the court should defer to State of New Jersey’s “nearly identical” suit and dismiss the City’s suit. Second, they argued that the City’s state law claims could not be constitutionally applied to out-of-state conduct such as global emissions of greenhouse gases. Third, they contended that the Clean Air Act preempted the City’s state law claims. Fourth, they argued that the claims raised nonjusticiable political questions. Fifth, they argued that claims based on an alleged “campaign of misinformation” (as opposed to “greenwashing” claims) were barred by the statute of limitations. They also argued that the City’s complaint failed to state a claim under New Jersey law.

Lawsuit seeking to recover climate change-related damages allegedly resulting from the defendant energy companies' production of fossil fuels and concealment of fossil fuels’ harms.

City of Hoboken v. Exxon Mobil Corp.

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Fossil Fuel Industry Defendants Sought Dismissal of Hoboken’s Climate Case

Filed

United States of America

New Jersey

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Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

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