Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement in response to the Second Circuit’s dismissal of New York City’s climate lawsuit:

“We applaud the Second Circuit’s decision affirming the New York district court’s ruling that dismissed New York City’s climate tort lawsuit in 2018. This decision should send a strong signal to the other municipalities and states that have brought similar lawsuits – these cases will not be successful because climate change is not an issue for the courts to decide. As the Second Circuit stated in its opinion, ‘Global warming presents a uniquely international problem of national concern. It is therefore not well-suited to the application of state law.’

“Americans deserve a smart national climate policy from policymakers, not a trial-lawyer driven litigation campaign that is more about making money and political scapegoating than real change. These lawsuits do nothing to advance meaningful solutions to climate change and will only make oil, gas and other energy staples more expensive for families and businesses across the country.

“If New York City wants to make a real difference in the fight against global climate change, it should focus on working with manufacturers to foster the policies and innovations required to address this challenge—as the overwhelming majority of communities have done. Americans are tired of the litigation sideshow and deserve real solutions.”