SCOTUS to Hear Landmark Climate Change Lawsuit

High court to decide if local governments can sue oil companies in state court over climate damages

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case of Boulder County v. Suncor Energy, which will determine whether state and local governments can sue oil and gas companies in state court to pay for alleged damages caused by climate change. The industry argues these claims belong in federal court, not state venues.

Why it matters

The Court's decision could open the door for a wave of state-level climate litigation against the energy industry, or shut down these claims for good. The ruling will have major financial implications, with billions of dollars potentially at stake for both local governments and oil companies.

The details

In Boulder County v. Suncor Energy, the Supreme Court will decide the jurisdictional question of whether state and local climate lawsuits can proceed in state courts or must be heard in federal court. The energy industry argues these claims are inherently federal in nature and do not belong in state venues. A ruling in favor of the local governments could unleash a flood of similar lawsuits across the country, while an industry victory would likely end most state-level climate liability cases.

  • The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on February 24, 2026.

The players

Boulder County

A county in Colorado that is suing Suncor Energy and other oil companies over climate change damages.

Suncor Energy

A major Canadian oil and gas company named as a defendant in the Boulder County lawsuit.

Chevron

An oil company involved in a separate climate liability case, Chevron v. Plaquemines Parish, which raises similar jurisdictional questions.

Plaquemines Parish

A parish in Louisiana that has sued oil companies over coastal land loss, resulting in a $750 million judgment in a single case.

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What’s next

The Supreme Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the case later this year and issue a ruling by June 2027.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's decision in Boulder County v. Suncor Energy will have major implications for the future of climate change litigation, determining whether state and local governments can pursue these claims in their own courts or if they must be heard at the federal level.