On July 2, 2018, the State of Rhode Island filed a lawsuit in state court asserting that 21 fossil fuel companies should be held liable for climate change impacts that the State has experienced and will experience in the future. Alleged harms include substantial sea level rise; more frequent and severe flooding, extreme precipitation events, and drought; and a warmer and more acidic ocean. Rhode Island asserted that the defendants were directly responsible for 182.9 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions between 1965 and 2015, representing 14.81% of total carbon dioxide emissions during that time period. The complaint alleges that the defendants’ production, promotion, and marketing of fossil fuel products, along with their “simultaneous concealment of the known hazards of these products, and their championing of anti-science campaigns” actually and proximately caused Rhode Island’s injuries. The complaint asserts claims of public nuisance, strict liability for failure to warn, strict liability for design defect, negligent design defect, negligent failure to warn, trespass, impairment of public trust resources, and violations of the State Environmental Rights Act. Rhode Island seeks compensatory damages, equitable relief (including abatement of nuisances), punitive damages, disgorgement of profits, and attorneys’ fees and costs of suit. 

State of Rhode Island lawsuit seeking to hold fossil fuel companies liable for causing climate change impacts that adversely affect Rhode Island and jeopardize State-owned or -operated facilities, real property, and other assets.

Rhode Island v. Chevron Corp.

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Rhode Island Sued Fossil Fuel Companies for Allegedly Causing Climate Change Impacts

Filed

United States of America

Rhode Island

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