US lawmaker moves to shield oil companies from climate cases

Republican Representative Harriet Hageman announced the effort during a hearing on Wednesday, following a letter last year from a group of attorneys general from conservative-led states urging the creation of a federal "liability shield" similar to the one Congress granted gunmakers in 2005.

Hageman also targeted so-called climate "superfund" laws, enacted in New York and Vermont and under consideration in other states, which require fossil fuel companies to help cover the costs of climate-related damages tied to the destabilization of the global climate system.

"Clearly, this is an area in which Congress has a role to play," Hageman, of the oil-rich western state of Wyoming, told Attorney General Pam Bondi.

"To that end, I'm working with my colleagues in both the House and Senate to craft legislation tackling both these state laws and the lawsuits that could destroy energy affordability for consumers."

Dozens of cases modeled on successful actions against the tobacco industry in the 1990s are playing out in state and local courts -- including claims of injuries, failure-to-warn, and even racketeering, meaning acting like a criminal enterprise.

Michigan last month sued oil majors in federal court, alleging they had acted as a cartel in an unlawful conspiracy by preventing meaningful competition from renewable energy.

Environmental advocates see such lawsuits as crucial means for climate accountability as President Donald Trump's second term has seen the United States go all-in to boost fossil fuels and block renewables.

Some cases have been dismissed, and none have yet gone to trial -- though crucially, the conservative-dominated Supreme Court has repeatedly declined to intervene and block them.

Mike Sommers, president of the American Petroleum Institute, the industry's largest trade group, spoke out against the cases in a keynote address last month.

Material on API's website confirms the group wishes to "Protect US energy producers and consumers from abusive state climate lawsuits and the expansion of climate 'superfund' policies that bypass Congress and threaten affordability."

Richard Wiles, president of the nonprofit Center for Climate Integrity, said in a statement the announcement was proof "the fossil fuel industry is panicking and pleading with Congress for a get-out-of-jail-free card."

Any legislation however could face an uphill battle since Republicans only enjoy a slim majority in the House of Representatives and bills normally require 60 votes in the Senate, where they hold 53 seats of the 100 seats.