A powerful oil industry group is opposing an effort in Hawaii that would create a new legal pathway to hold major fossil fuel companies liable for climate change.
The Hawaii Legislature is considering whether to authorize the state attorney general to sue fossil fuel companies for their alleged role in causing property insurance rates to rise in the state.
Hawaii could become the first state to seek damages from the industry for fossil fuel emissions by arguing they contributed to climate change that intensified natural disasters and caused property insurance rates to increase. California and New York legislatures are weighing similar measures.
The American Petroleum Institute in an email called the legislation in the three states the result of a “coordinated campaign” to penalize the industry.
