Environment

Calif. bill would let fossil fuel companies be sued for climate change damages

‘They should be at the table in helping with recovery.’
An aerial view shows the devastation left by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

California Sen. Scott Wiener (D) introduced legislation that would allow victims of climate change-fueled disasters and insurance companies to sue oil and gas companies for damages, a measure supporters said would help Los Angeles recover from recent devastating fires.

At a press conference Monday, Wiener said fossil fuel companies have lied for decades over the industry’s adverse effect on the climate and should be held accountable. He said disasters are bigger and happen more frequently than they did 10 years ago.

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