Supreme Court to Hear Oil and Gas Companies' Appeal on Climate Change Lawsuits

The conservative-majority court agreed to take up a case from Boulder, Colorado, one of multiple lawsuits alleging the companies deceived the public about fossil fuels' contribution to climate change.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Supreme Court has agreed to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change. The case out of Boulder County, Colorado will likely have implications for similar lawsuits filed by governments around the country seeking damages to help pay for rebuilding after climate change-related disasters.

Why it matters

These lawsuits represent a growing legal effort to leverage action on climate change through the courts, with governments arguing the industry should help pay for the costs of adapting to a warming planet. The Supreme Court's decision to hear the oil and gas companies' appeal could have far-reaching implications for the future of climate change litigation in the United States.

The details

Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil appealed to the Supreme Court after Colorado's highest court let the Boulder case proceed. The companies argue emissions are a national issue that should be heard in federal court, where similar suits have been dismissed. The Trump administration has supported the companies and urged the justices to reverse the Colorado Supreme Court decision, saying it would mean 'every locality in the country could sue essentially anyone in the world for contributing to global climate change.'

  • The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on February 23, 2026.
  • Arguments in the case are expected in the fall of 2026.

The players

Suncor Energy

An oil and gas company that appealed to the Supreme Court to block the climate change lawsuit filed by Boulder, Colorado.

ExxonMobil

An oil and gas company that appealed to the Supreme Court to block the climate change lawsuit filed by Boulder, Colorado.

Boulder, Colorado

One of multiple local governments around the country that has filed lawsuits seeking to hold the oil and gas industry liable for climate change-related damages.

Trump administration

Supported the oil and gas companies and urged the Supreme Court to reverse the Colorado Supreme Court decision that allowed the Boulder lawsuit to proceed.

Jonathan Koehn

The climate initiatives director for the city of Boulder, who said the case is about 'fairness' and ensuring local taxpayers don't have to shoulder the full burden of adapting to climate change.

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What they’re saying

“Our case is, fundamentally, about fairness. Boulder is already experiencing the effects of a rapidly warming climate, and the financial burden of adaptation should not fall solely on local taxpayers.”

— Jonathan Koehn, Climate initiatives director, Boulder (wcvb.com)

What’s next

Arguments in the Supreme Court case are expected in the fall of 2026.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's decision to hear the oil and gas companies' appeal could have major implications for the future of climate change litigation in the United States, as governments around the country seek to hold the industry accountable for the costs of adapting to a warming planet.