Climate Change Roundup: Court Tosses Bay Area Suits Against Oil Firms

Lawsuits brought by the cities of San Francisco and Oakland seeking damages from the oil majors for climate pollution were dismissed June 25 by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

The ruling held that greenhouse gas emissions control is a political matter and not one to be decided by a court of law.

“Although the scope of plaintiffs’ claims is determined by federal law, there are sound reasons why regulation of the worldwide problem of global warming should be determined by our political branches, not by our judiciary,” wrote U.S. District Judge William Alsup.

Alsup, who held a climate “tutorial” in his courtroom earlier this year, accepted the science behind global warming. However, the pervasiveness of its impact, as well the widespread benefit of fossil fuels, require “a solution on a more vast scale than can be supplied by a judge in a public nuisance case,” he stated.

The two Bay Area cities sued Chevron, Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell, alleging their product created a “public nuisance,” and that they should pick up the tab for adapting to a warming world, including the cost of sea walls. * * * * *

A study published earlier this month in the journal Science found that the nation’s oil and gas industry emits 13 million metric tons of methane annually, some 60 percent more than estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Methane is 80 times more powerful as a global warming gas than carbon dioxide over 20 years when it’s released to the atmosphere.

The study’s finding that methane emissions are higher is based on a leak rate from pipelines and other equipment of 2.3 percent compared to EPA’s estimate of 1.4 percent.

“This is by far the most comprehensive body of research of its kind,” said Environmental Defense Fund Scientist Steven Hamburg, a co-author of the study. “Scientists have uncovered a huge problem, but also an enormous opportunity.”

The leaked methane amounts to enough natural gas to supply 10 million homes and has a value of $2 billion a year, according to EDF researchers who led the study with support from 19 co-authors from 15 other institutions.

EDF recently announced plans to launch MethaneSAT, a satellite designed to measure and map human-caused methane emissions on earth. It’s due to launch in 2021. * * * * *

The energy efficiency ranking of the U.S. fell from 8 th place in 2016 to 10 th in 2018, according to <a href="http://email.prnewswire.com/wf/click?upn=ojFx9akHO64GbCwpx9G8MqK2k79KTBTlY-2B9JISh-2BMFvE2emBRwUpdlDuub1hHpSlW8hob4ZSekLkbLwuuYbsMnhaeA53l7V8-2FCKdHjB7ZQCMOeU4Xus0eGD3OUT1-2FzrbVrCzMf-2BUtmJOAotBmTZPTo-2F6W9rqlpKu-2BWMlnalyyH46LvKeRrmdVfCeohiASFZQM95dMQ7SxJ2aoOYKx6zc2QWZD51VgdLvLlIO6OW60-2FAR0cAev4tVEOn6D-2FbkBPue_gCNiLBarw-2F4xQyt7ivIY6EdulJmcA0IDdrbpk3HWv-2BZpjv6-2Fp2lnrCDlRdN-2BeXZ36KWdMlMJJONKCo8YQd-2F0Q-2BDY-2FxRBfbM45sEZh7hHb1AJL6WyRA73UKsR8nst-2FTbvteP1DhpB8cexaGU-2BbQm5lHpNYkbvEEBpUXgFQ8eVT-2BrxCKUS03zP7e2ZjwRMz2QZy7RHtV0r3v1R-2FefZgtzmYsWACQKPtoG7l3fSsAkfZ0MqCixDlzD7weQZAMykPoBjaHMWrk3Zf3vZt30-2BNPOHcO34WhNk8n5J3NkOWJ5mP-2Bc9q93iLVRj25bgz15acurL"> The 2018 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

The U.S. scored 55.5 points, down six points from the last ranking, in contrast to Germany and Italy, each scoring this year 75.5 points and tying for first place. Next in lines was France, scoring 73.5, the United Kingdom scoring 73.

Adopting energy efficiency policies would “reduce dependence on energy imports, create jobs, cut pollution, and save people and businesses money,” said Steve Nadel, ACEEE’s executive director. "They will also help countries remain globally competitive and meet climate goals.”

The biennial scorecard released June 26 ranks 25 of the world’s largest energy users on 36 efficiency metrics. —The Editors

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Climate Change Roundup: Court Tosses Bay Area Suits Against Oil Firms

William J. Kelly

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