Maryland State Supreme Court justices on Monday morning appeared wary of local jurisdictions’ arguments for granting damages to areas impacted by climate change in the state over alleged deceptive marketing by oil companies.
Baltimore City, Annapolis and Anne Arundel County had separately sued fossil fuel companies, starting in 2018, over the impact greenhouse gas emissions have had on their communities. Lower-court judges dismissed all three cases within the past two years, and the jurisdictions were appealing.
The cities and county have jointly asked the Maryland State Supreme Court to rescind those dismissals. The appellate court is being asked to decide whether state law can apply to damages caused by greenhouse gas emitted outside of state borders.
The lawsuits are a part of a mov