Supreme Court to Hear Oil Companies' Bid to Dismiss Climate Lawsuits

ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy appeal lower court rulings allowing climate change liability cases to proceed.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy, who are seeking to dismiss a lawsuit brought by officials in Boulder, Colorado. The lawsuit alleges the oil companies should be held liable for their role in fueling climate change and the resulting costs incurred by the city and county governments.

Why it matters

This case could have far-reaching implications for the growing number of state and local governments seeking to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate change-related damages. A ruling in favor of the oil companies could make it more difficult for these types of lawsuits to succeed in the future.

The details

The Boulder lawsuit accuses ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy of misleading the public about the role their products played in exacerbating climate change while profiting from fossil fuel sales. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified monetary damages to cover past and future costs incurred for mitigating the effects of climate change, such as infrastructure repairs, environmental damage, emergency management, and public health impacts.

  • In 2018, Boulder officials filed the lawsuit against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy.
  • In May 2025, the Colorado Supreme Court denied the companies' request to dismiss the case, prompting their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • On February 23, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear the oil companies' appeal.

The players

ExxonMobil

A major U.S.-based oil and gas company that is one of the defendants in the Boulder climate change lawsuit.

Suncor Energy

A Canadian oil and gas company that is the other defendant in the Boulder climate change lawsuit.

Boulder, Colorado

The local government that filed the lawsuit against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy, seeking to hold the oil companies liable for climate change-related costs.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose administration backed the appeal by the oil companies.

Aaron Brockett

The mayor of the city of Boulder, who commented on the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case.

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What they’re saying

“Local communities are living with the mounting costs of climate change. The Supreme Court should affirm Colorado's right to hold these companies accountable for the harm they have caused in Colorado.”

— Aaron Brockett, Mayor of the city of Boulder (gvwire.com)

What’s next

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case and issue a ruling, which could have significant implications for the future of climate change-related lawsuits against fossil fuel companies.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles between local governments and oil companies over who should bear the costs of climate change. The Supreme Court's decision could set an important precedent for how these types of lawsuits are handled going forward.