Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement addressing the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Baltimore’s climate lawsuit:

“Today’s ruling misses the real issue here. Baltimore’s case, which the court acknowledges is novel, may be creatively packaged under state law, but the nature of climate change, this litigation and the remedies they seek are all inherently beyond the scope of any state. Figuring out how to address climate change and its impacts around the country is a major national and international priority that cannot be decided piecemeal by state judges based on a narrow set of politically motivated allegations.

The U.S. Supreme Court already cautioned against climate litigation, which is why this ruling increases the likelihood the Supreme Court will ultimately hear these cases again. It makes no sense to spend years litigating climate cases in state courts when it is clear that climate change is global in nature, has many causes and requires broad-based policy solutions that only Congress has the ability to enact.

What’s more, at a time when our energy security is at risk, Americans are facing rising prices and the federal government is working to encourage more domestic productions, we can hardly afford to subject federal energy policy to a patchwork of approaches from a multitude of state courts. State and local governments should work with manufacturers of all kinds to continue developing the technologies that will allow us to source and use energy more efficiently, protect our environment and ensure our energy security.”

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.”

Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement in response to the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit to send the climate lawsuit brought by Boulder and counties of Boulder and San Miguel back to state court:

“The Tenth Circuit’s ruling today misses the key point. Boulder’s case may be creatively packaged under state law, but the nature of climate change, this litigation and the remedies they seek are all inherently beyond the scope of any state. Figuring out how to mitigate climate change and its impacts around the country is a major national and international priority that cannot be decided piecemeal by state judges based on a narrow set of politically motivated allegations.

The U.S. Supreme Court already cautioned against climate litigation, which is why this ruling increases the likelihood the Supreme Court will ultimately hear these cases again. It makes no sense to spend years litigating climate cases when it is clear that climate change is global in nature, has many causes and requires broad-based policy solutions that only Congress has the ability to enact.

What’s most concerning here is that the people behind this litigation have repeatedly said their goal in bringing this case is to make energy more expensive for the rest of us, and few families and businesses can afford the bill for this litigation. If Boulder and other communities really want to do something about climate change, they should work with manufacturers on energy innovations that can make a meaningful difference in our ability to source and use energy in ways that are both climate friendly and affordable. This litigation does not provide any of these needed answers.”

Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement ahead of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals oral arguments in Mayor & City Council of Baltimore v. BP PLC:

“The Fourth Circuit should recognize that this case does not belong in state courts. Baltimore’s claims may be creatively packaged under state law, but the nature of climate change, this litigation and the remedies they seek are all inherently beyond the scope of any state. Figuring out how to mitigate climate change—both globally and locally—is a federal legislative and regulatory matter that must not be decided piecemeal by state judges based on a narrow set of facts and interests. 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 not be allowed to proceed.”

Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement in response to the Vermont Attorney General filing a lawsuit against manufacturers over the impacts of climate change:

“We share Vermont’s commitment to the environment, but its lawsuit does nothing to advance meaningful solutions to climate change and will only make oil, gas and other energy staples more expensive for families and businesses throughout the state. What Americans deserve is a smart national policy, not a trial-lawyer driven litigation campaign.

“Manufacturers, including those in the energy industry, are focused on the fight against climate change every day and are investing major resources in developing ways to source and use energy more efficiently. We encourage Vermont and every state to focus on working with manufacturers to foster the policies and innovations required to address this global challenge—as the overwhelming majority of communities have done.”

-MAP-

The Manufacturers’ Accountability Project (MAP) will set the record straight and highlight the concerted, coordinated campaign being waged by plaintiffs’ lawyers, public officials, deep-pocketed foundations and other activists who have sought to undermine and weaken manufacturers in the United States. This campaign will pull back the curtain to expose these efforts and to hold key actors accountable in order to protect our members and American manufacturing workers. The MAP is a project of the NAM’s Manufacturers’ Center for Legal Action (MCLA), which serves as the leading voice of manufacturers in the nation’s courts. Visit us at mfgaccountabilityproject.org.

Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in the appeal in climate lawsuits brought by San Francisco and Oakland, CA:

“Today’s decision comes as no surprise as it follows the Supreme Court’s ruling last month that asked the appellate courts to consider many of the same issues presented by Oakland’s petition. The appellate courts, including the Ninth Circuit, will be conducting a full review of the federal issues this litigation raises over our nation’s energy policy. The architects behind this litigation campaign purposefully packaged these cases as state law claims to avoid federal courts, which have repeatedly and properly found that these cases present policy issues for Congress and the administration, not liability issues for the courts. If the elected leaders in Oakland and the cities really want to do something about climate change, they should stop trying to game the litigation system and start working with manufacturers on innovations that can make a real difference for their communities.”

-MAP-

The Manufacturers’ Accountability Project (MAP) will set the record straight and highlight the concerted, coordinated campaign being waged by plaintiffs’ lawyers, public officials, deep-pocketed foundations and other activists who have sought to undermine and weaken manufacturers in the United States. This campaign will pull back the curtain to expose these efforts and to hold key actors accountable in order to protect our members and American manufacturing workers. The MAP is a project of the NAM’s Manufacturers’ Center for Legal Action (MCLA), which serves as the leading voice of manufacturers in the nation’s courts. Visit us at mfgaccountabilityproject.org.

Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement in response to the Anne Arundel County, Maryland filing a lawsuit against manufacturers over the impacts of climate change:

“We share Anne Arundel County’s commitment to the environment, and we should be fighting climate change instead of each other. What Americans deserve is 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 in Anne Arundel County and throughout Maryland.

“Making and selling us the energy we all need to heat our homes, power our factories and jobs, and be part of modern society is not a liability-inducing event. That is why courts across the country—including the U.S. Supreme Court—have repeatedly dismissed these climate suits. If Anne Arundel County 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.”

-MAP-

The Manufacturers’ Accountability Project (MAP) will set the record straight and highlight the concerted, coordinated campaign being waged by plaintiffs’ lawyers, public officials, deep-pocketed foundations and other activists who have sought to undermine and weaken manufacturers in the United States. This campaign will pull back the curtain to expose these efforts and to hold key actors accountable in order to protect our members and American manufacturing workers. The MAP is a project of the NAM’s Manufacturers’ Center for Legal Action (MCLA), which serves as the leading voice of manufacturers in the nation’s courts. Visit us at mfgaccountabilityproject.org.

Washington, D.C. — Phil Goldberg, Special Counsel for the Manufacturers’ Accountability Project, issued the following statement in response to the New York City’s new lawsuit against manufacturers over the impacts of climate change:

“On Earth Day, we should be coming together to solve climate change. Manufacturers, including in the energy sector, are proactively working to create a sustainable environment, which requires developing innovative new technologies that will allow us to source and use energy much more efficiently. Collaboration and innovation are the only ways to stop climate change in its tracks.

“New York City should stop wasting everyone’s time on litigation that seeks to impose legal liability on manufacturers for climate change. This litigation will do nothing to solve climate change, is needlessly divisive, and will only make it more expensive for New York families and businesses to power their homes and workplaces. It also has repeatedly failed. Just last month, the federal courts rejected the City’s last climate lawsuit against these same companies, saying that “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. 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.”