In one of the first allegations of illegal death in the country that seeks to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its role in the changing climate, a woman in Washington states that seven oil and gas companies, saying that it contributed to an extraordinary hot day that led to the high temperature of her mother.
The lawsuit filed at the State Court says this week that companies knew that their products had changed the climate, including contributing to the 2021 heat wave in the northwest of the Pacific, which killed Juliana Leon, who was 65 years old, and that they failed to warn the public of these risks.
On June 28, 2021, an extraordinary heat wave crowned on the day of Fahrenheit 108 degrees (42.22 ° C)-the most important of which is ever registered in the state, according to the file. Lyon had just led 100 miles from home to make an appointment, and she refuted her windows on the way back because air conditioning of her car was not working.
Lyon pulled and stopped her car in a residential area, according to the case. It was found unconscious behind the wheel when he called a passer -by to help. Despite medical interventions, Leon died.
Deposit names Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, Conocophillips, Phillips 66 and BP Olympic Pipeline Company.
“The defendants knew that their fossil fuel products had already changed the atmosphere of the Earth,” said Juliana’s file, when Juliana was born. “By 1968, the defendants realized that the economy based on fossil fuels that they were creating and Idimim would lead to an intensification of these changes in the atmosphere, which leads to more frequent, destructive and loss of human life.”
“The intense heat that killed Jolie was directly linked to the change moved by the fossil climate.”
“The exploitation of a personal tragedy to enhance litigation in the Messi climate is inconsistent with the law, science and common followers. The court must add this claim that is far to reach the increasing list of climate claims without merit that have already disposed of the states and federal courts,” said Chevron’s lawyer Theodore Potos Junior said in a statement.
Conocophillips, BP, Shel and BP have refused an Olympic Olympic Pipeline company to comment upon accessible by Associated Press. Other companies did not respond to the suspension requests.
The lawsuit accuses the hiding and reducing companies, and it is misleading the risk of changing climate caused by humans who burn oil and gas and obstruct research.
International climate researchers He said in an analysis of peer review The “Dome Dome” for 2021 was almost “impossible without changing the climate that a person caused.”
Scientists have been widely attributed Recordmore Repeated heat waves and longer last All over the world to climate change that they say is the result of burning fossil fuels. Oil and gas of fossil fuels, when burned, emitted from the emissions of greenhouse gas that aims to the planet, such as carbon dioxide.
“We have seen a really advanced scientific understanding about the specific effects that climate change can be caused by individual harsh weather events,” said Curie Silverman Rawi, an older colleague at the Sabine Center at Sabine College at Sabine College at Columbia College of Law. “Today, scientists are much more confident in saying this, but for climate change, this did not happen.”
Silverman Rawi said that the privacy of the issue could explain to people the consequences of climate change and the possible consequences of the company’s behavior.
The lawsuit was first reported by the New York Times.
“The major oil companies have known for decades that their products would lead to catastrophic climate disasters that will become more deadly and destroyed if their business model has not changed,” Richard Wales, head of the Climate Climate Center, said in a statement on the case. “But instead of warning the audience and taking steps to save lives, Big Oil lies and deliberately accelerated the problem.”
Unprecedented work
The states and cities have long passed after the stakeholders in the fossil fuel industry to contribute to the high temperature of the planet. newly, Hawaii and Michigan It announces plans to take legal measures against fossil fuel companies for the damage caused by climate change, although the states have been faced before Combating lawsuits From the US Department of Justice.
The current administration was quick to ignore climate change and relevant terms. under President Donald TrumpUnited States Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreementonce again; The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Agency Weather prediction and workforce research Destroyed – It will not track the cost of weather disasters It is fed by climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency has been called for long -term rewriting The results that determine the greenhouse gases aimed at the planet General health and luxury.
Meanwhile, the federal government has increased support for oil and gas production in the name of the “American Energy Hegemony” agenda and information technology. A set of efforts and other projects declined To address climate change.
All over the world, and the other Climate cases are monitored Closely, the preparation is likely to be A unique precedent In an attempt to hold the main pollutants accountable. A German court has ruled this week against the Peruvian farms, which demanded the greenhouse gas emissions of the power company that was exposed to global global warming and put his home at risk.
However, the issue that is looking to say that these companies must be responsible for the death of the individual is rare. Misti Leon is looking for unlimited cash damage.
“Looking forward, it is difficult to imagine this will be an isolated accident,” said Don Braman, Associate Professor at George Washington University Law Faculty. “We are facing an escalating climate crisis. It is certain that this year, this year, will be the most record, one of the most wonderful experience in the foreseeable future.
He added: “It is possible to predict or-use a legal term, expected-that losing lives from these disasters that the climate is likely to accelerate with the intensification of climate chaos.” “At the heart of all this, there is an argument about the guilt of fossil fuel companies, and it depends on a large and growing group of evidence that these companies have understood the risk of their products for decades.”
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Alexa St. John is the Associated Press climate correspondent. Follow it on x: Alexa_stjohn. You reach it in as.john@ap.org.
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