Big oil has long known that its products would wreak climate chaos, but kept drilling anyway while suppressing climate science. Such behaviour amounts to reckless endangerment, US lawyers argued this week, in a prosecution memorandum that makes a case for criminal charges to be brought against big oil executives in New York State.
The state has been battered by hurricanes and flooding in recent decades – weather events that are becoming more common and severe due to climate change caused by burning fossil fuels, climate scientists say.
Elected officials are among those supporting the memorandum, published by advocacy group Public Citizen. It comes amid growing evidence that big oil knew about the climate dangers of their products but promoted them anyway while suppressing science. “This conduct was not just amoral,” the memo says. “It was criminal.”
New York State senator Kristen Gonzalez, who supports such litigation, said: “Big oil must be held accountable for their actions, and justice must be won for those who’ve suffered the devastating impacts of climate-related disasters.”
The American Petroleum Institute, which represents US oil firms, was contacted for comment.
Image: Pat Whelen