Can Fossil Fuel Companies Be Held Liable for Climate Change?
Event Information
Event description
Description
After 15 years of climate change litigation, the question of whether anybody can be held legally liable for the adverse impacts of climate change remains unanswered. However, the Trump administration’s effort to roll back climate regulation in the United States; the devastation caused by Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey; developments in the science of climate change attribution; and a handful of recent lawsuits filed by cities and counties in California have put the question front and center. This panel discussion will look at one particular set of defendants – companies involved in the extraction, production and marketing of fossil fuels. Panelists will summarize the current state of attribution science, and present core legal arguments for and against liability.
Panelists:
Peter Frumhoff, Director of Science & Policy, Union of Concerned Scientists
Sharon Eubanks, Partner, Bordas & Bordas
Thomas A. Lorenzen, Partner, Crowell & Moring
Gerald Torres, Professor, Cornell Law School
Moderator:
Michael Burger, Executive Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Organizer The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Earth Institute, Union of Concerned Scientists, New York City Bar Association International Environmental Law Committee
Organizer of Can Fossil Fuel Companies Be Held Liable for Climate Change?
