XOM Exxon Mobil Corp

By Gerald Porter Jr. 

A federal judge in Manhattan dismissed New York City's lawsuit against five major oil companies Thursday, ruling that climate change and its effects are global issues that extend beyond the court's reach.

Judge John Keenan's decision is the latest in a string of similar cases to hit significant roadblocks. Lawsuits filed by the cities of Oakland and San Francisco against the same five companies, which also sought relief for the costs of addressing climate change, was tossed last month.

In January, the administration of Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, filed the suit, alleging the companies -- Chevron Corp., BP PLC, ConocoPhillips, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, and Exxon Mobil Corp. -- knowingly ignored the effects of fossil fuel production and played them down to consumers.

The administration asked for billions of dollars in damages, money it said was required to redress mounting environmental problems in the city.

Defense attorneys countered that blaming the oil companies for the magnitude of global fossil-fuel emissions would be impossible.

"Trying to resolve a complex, global policy issue like climate change through litigation is 'illogical,' and would intrude on the powers of Congress and the executive branch," said Chevron attorney Theodore Boutrous Jr.

In his decision, Judge Keenan said global warming and its solutions should be handled at the federal and international levels and by policy makers. While climate change is a "harmful" phenomenon, he said the city's claim that oil companies are the "top sources of [greenhouse gas] pollution in the world" should be discussed at the international level.

"The immense and complicated problem of global warming requires a comprehensive solution that weighs the global benefits of fossil fuel use with the gravity of the impending harms," Judge Keenan said.

A spokesperson for Exxon Mobil Corp. said: "We have said all along that addressing the risks of climate change is a serious global challenge that should be addressed by policy makers and not by the courts."

Mr. de Blasio's administration plans to appeal the decision.

"The mayor believes big polluters must be held accountable for their contributions to climate change and the damage it will cause New York City," a spokesperson said.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 19, 2018 18:55 ET (22:55 GMT)

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