Join the Center for Progressive Reform on Thursday, September 3 at 12 p.m. Eastern for a webinar, “The Fight for Fossil Fuel Industry Accountability: Understanding Suncor v. Boulder.”
One of the marquee cases before the U.S. Supreme Court next term is Suncor v. Boulder, which will consider whether state and local governments can hold the oil and gas industry accountable in court for its long-running actions to conceal the harms of its products — harms that we are now beginning to experience.
This webinar will examine why accountability for the oil and gas industry is so important, the main legal issues being raised in Suncor, and how the case fits into the industry’s broader efforts to shield itself from rules that apply to all other businesses.
Our Speakers
Rebecca Bratspies, Oliver Houck Chair in Environmental Law, Tulane University Law School, and Center for Progressive Reform Board Member
Robert Glicksman, J. B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Environmental Law, The George Washington University Law School, and Center for Progressive Reform Member Scholar
Lemir Teron, Associate Professor, Howard University Department of Earth, Environment, & Equity, and Center for Progressive Reform Member Scholar
Bryan Dunning, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Progressive Reform (Moderator)
Related Resources
Case History and Materials
- Sabin Center for Climate Change Law Climate Litigation Database
- Amicus brief by Member Scholar William Buzbee
- Amicus brief by Member Scholars Daniel Farber, Thomas McGarity, Nina Mendelson, and Wendy Wagner (and additional co-authors), filed as “Preemption Scholars”
Commentaries
- Member Scholar Rebecca Bratspies in the New Orleans Times-Picayune/Advocate: “Despite Chevron ruling, state courts still open for climate suits”
- Member Scholar Maxine Burkett in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “Hawaii takes another legal step toward climate justice”
- Member Scholars Alejandro Camacho and Robert Glicksman in The Conversation: “The U.S. Constitution and laws do not protect oil companies from being sued over the harm they cause to the climate” and the University of Chicago Law Review Online (forthcoming): “The Polluter-Pays Principle and its Enemies: Corporate Fraud, Weaponizing Preemption, and the Survival of Climate Accountability“
- Senior Policy Analyst Bryan Dunning in CPRBlog: “The Costs of Climate Change Are Rising. Shielding the Oil and Gas Industry from Accountability Is a Terrible Idea.”
- Policy Director James Goodwin and Member Scholar Thomas McGarity in Law360: “At High Court, Oil Cos.’ Suncor Preemption Claims Fall Short”
- Policy Director James Goodwin in CPRBlog: “Using ‘National Security’ Excuse to Preempt State and Local Efforts to Hold Big Oil Accountable Would Be Bad Law and Policy” and “Debunking the Argument about Oil and Gas Litigation and Increased Energy Costs”
- Member Scholar Rob Verchick in The Hill: “Climate accountability deserves its day in court”
