Maryland’s Supreme Court Strikes Down Baltimore’s Climate Lawsuit
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- The Maryland Supreme Court ruled against reviving climate change lawsuits filed by Baltimore, Annapolis, and Anne Arundel County against 26 multinational oil and gas companies, which had been previously dismissed by lower courts.
- The local governments accused these companies of misleading the public about the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions and sought damages for climate-related harms.
- The court held that federal law preempts state law regarding air pollution crossing state lines, blocking such lawsuits and stating that the plaintiffs were effectively trying to regulate global greenhouse gas emissions through state litigation.
- Justice Brynja M. Booth emphasized that the lawsuits fall outside traditional state or local responsibilities and cannot be used to address global environmental issues.
- The court also ruled that even if federal preemption did not apply, the claims would still be invalid under Maryland state law.
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