July 19, 2018

350.org on Judge Dismissing NYC Climate Lawsuit: “The industry is still on the hook.”

New York, NY — Today, U.S. District Judge John Keenan dismissed New York City’s lawsuit against five major fossil fuel companies for their role in causing climate change and subsequent damages, arguing that while their role in the crisis is clear, it’s up to the legislative and executive branches to address it.

On this decision, May Boeve, 350.org Executive Director, issued the following statement:

“The industry is still on the hook. While disappointing, Judge Keenan’s decision to dismiss New York City’s climate lawsuit underscores the role of fossil fuel companies’ climate destruction while our communities are left to pay the costs. The Trump administration has made their priorities clear: line the pockets of fossil fuel executives even at the expense of our health and safety.

“In the face of this dangerous regression, it’s ever more urgent for officials to take bold and immediate action: from state attorneys general investigating all that #ExxonKnew to elected officials like New York Governor Andrew Cuomo moving off fossil fuels to 100% renewables for all. Across New York and around the world, people are rising up to hold fossil fuel billionaires and their cronies accountable. This is far from the end of the road.”

Bill McKibben, author and 350.org co-founder, said:

“This is a good reminder of how important it is that New York City also pledged to divest from fossil fuels. The power of these companies influences even our judiciary — we need to take them on head-on to have a hope of weakening their death grip on the planet.”

Just yesterday, over 100 organizations announced the New York Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice mobilization on September 6 ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit, urging Governor Cuomo and elected officials at all levels to build a Fossil Free New York through: (1) justly transitioning to 100% renewables; (2) stopping all fossil fuel infrastructure; and (3) making corporate polluters pay for their destruction.

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Contact: Lindsay Meiman, [email protected], +1 (347) 460-9082

 

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