Connecticut has filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil. It seeks restitution and civil penalties for damages the state has suffered due to climate change.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong alleges that ExxonMobil deceived the public about the effects of fossil fuels on climate change for decades while making billions of dollars selling oil and gas.
“Going as far back as 1950, almost 70 years ago, ExxonMobil has known about the debilitating effects of climate change. The catastrophic effect of sea level rise", he said.
Tong says he filed the action in state court because Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act has no statute of limitations.
“Under Connecticut state law they are liable to the people of this state.”
Tong would not put a dollar figure on the amount he is seeking.
ExxonMobil issued a statement saying legal proceedings like this waste millions of dollars of taxpayer money and do nothing to advance meaningful actions that reduce the risks of climate change.
