What responsibility do oil and gas giants have for climate change disaster events? This is the question at the core of a first-of-its-kind lawsuit Multnomah County has filed against major providers of oil and gas in Oregon.
Back in June 2024, Multnomah County launched a $51 Billion lawsuit against big oil. The county, home to Portland, alleges that fossil fuel companies' carbon emissions are the cause of the 2021 heat dome event that affected Oregon, Washington, and British Colombia; the same heat wave that killed about 200 people. Prosecutors argue that these companies have a responsibility to contribute to climate mitigation strategies and infrastructure. They also accuse the business’ of intentionally deceiving the public about the harm of carbon emissions and environmental consequences as a result of their practices.
Late last week, Multnomah County added NW Natural to the defendants, adding to the list of oil giants such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and others. The prosecuting is seeking $1.5 billion for damages, to pay for costs associated with future extreme heat events, and $50 billion to “weatherproof” against extreme heat. The weatherproofing would include things like expanding health care and emergency services, adding insulation and HVAC systems to buildings, and tearing out asphalt to plant more trees.
Multnomah County chair Jessica Vega Pederson commented that this lawsuit is about fairness and accountability, that citizens should not be forced to pay for the carelessness of big oil with their tax dollars, and therefore these companies deserve to pay their share.
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