"LOS ANGELES — The state of California filed a lawsuit against some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, claiming they deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels now faulted for climate change-related storms and wildfires that caused billions of dollars in damage, officials said Saturday.

The civil lawsuit filed in state Superior Court in San Francisco also seeks creation of a fund — financed by the companies — to pay for recovery efforts following devastating storms and fires. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement the companies named in the lawsuit — Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP — should be held accountable.

“For more than 50 years, Big Oil has been lying to us — covering up the fact that they’ve long known how dangerous the fossil fuels they produce are for our planet,” Newsom said. “California taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for billions of dollars in damages — wildfires wiping out entire communities, toxic smoke clogging our air, deadly heat waves, record-breaking droughts parching our wells.”"

Michael R. Blood reports for the Associated Press September 16, 2023. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"California Sues Five Major Oil Companies For 'Decades-Long Campaign Of Deception About Climate Change" (Los Angeles Times) [3]

"California Sues Oil Giants, Saying They Downplayed Climate Change. Here's What To Know" (NPR) [4]

"California Sues Giant Oil Companies, Citing Decades of Deception" (New York Times) [5]