Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement ahead of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals oral arguments regarding the City and County of Honolulu and the County of Maui’s lawsuits:

“The City and County of Honolulu and the County of Maui’s claims may be packaged under state tort law, but their goals, the nature of the litigation, and the remedies they seek are all inherently national. Federal judges have understood this and repeatedly rejected these cases, which is why the architects behind this litigation campaign are doing everything they can to avoid the federal courts. Their efforts to game the legal system should be stopped. The best way to address climate change concerns and impacts is for Congress, federal agencies, and local governments to work with U.S. manufacturers on policies and new technologies that reduce emissions. Innovation and collaboration, not litigation, remain the proven ways America has always brought about the type of society-wide technological advancement needed to address this global challenge.”