Chicago adds another climate suit to dozens of others across the U.S.

The city of Chicago has filed a lawsuit against six oil and gas companies, as well as the trade association the American Petroleum Institute, arguing the companies are responsible for climate change and misleading the public about it.

““From the unprecedented poor air quality that we experienced last summer to the basement floodings that our residents on the West Side experienced, the consequences of this crisis are severe, as are the costs of surviving them. That is why we are seeking to hold these Defendants accountable,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said Tuesday. 

The lawsuit joins dozens of others from local and state governments making similar claims. Critics of the lawsuits warn they will drive up energy costs and undermine innovative, cost-effective approaches to addressing emissions.