Washington — The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Biden administration to share its views in a pair of cases involving the city of Honolulu's efforts to hold major oil and gas companies accountable for the impacts of climate change.The one-lined order from the court invites the solicitor general to submit a brief in two appeals of a Hawaii Supreme Court decision brought by the energy industry. Justice Samuel Alito did not participate in the consideration of the cases.
The state's highest court determined that the Clean Air Act displaced federal common law governing suits seeking damages for interstate pollution. It also rejected the oil companies' argument that Honolulu was seeking to regulate emissions through its lawsuit, finding that the city instead wanted to challenge the promotion and sale of fossil fuel products 'without warning and abetted by a sophisticated disinformation campaign.