From a sustainability issue on paper, to a full-blown legal case—Lesson: don't wait until it's too late #bcsfh20https://t.co/jbwaRcE9He
— Priyanka Algu (@priyaKa98) September 22, 2017
Though the environmental world often has a dicey relationship when it comes to interests of the law/politics, lawyers in San Francisco and Oakland are now joining forces with environmentalists to hold oil companies accountable for their misdemeanors. According to Scientific American, as of yesterday, five top oil companies have been sued on the charges of encouraging use of fossil fuels and other actions that have been linked to climate change and a rise in sea-levels. Being coastal cities, Oakland and San Francisco residents especially feel the pressure of their situation. Plans and maps of buildings including the main Oakland airport underwater by 2100 are a cause for concern. Furthermore, these aren’t just any lawyers involved; names such as Matt Pawa and David Bookbinder are familiar in past cases won against American Electric Power Co. and Exxon. Should they win, they plan to make these companies fund California’s climate change adaptation arsenal. Though the oil companies did not cite a response, evidence showing that over 90 companies are responsible for over half of the current climate changes does not necessarily work in their favor.
Of the ‘big’ companies I’ve heard about, oil companies are some of the few that frequently grace newspaper covers and media reports. In the past, I’ve read about individuals or groups of scientists taking action here and there to undo damage made by these companies—whether it be cleaning up spills or searching for cleaner alternatives. However, I was surprised to find this issue was being addressed in an entirely different perspective—via the law. This reminded me of our conversation in class about the way in which our view of urban sustainability is maturing to encompass aspects of our lives outside of just the environment, now including social and economic visions as well. Although the timing is a bit late, I see a glimpse of growth in this situation. Simply by filing this case under ‘protection of people and property’ and proposing funding for sustainable goals as their winnings, these lawyers have made a statement in recognizing that should environmental infrastructure fail, so too will our social and economic constructs.
News, Benjamin HulacE&E. “Cities Sue Big Oil for Damages from Rising Seas.” Scientific American, 21 Sept. 2017, www.scientificamerican.com/article/cities-sue-big-oil-for-damages-from-rising-seas/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sa-editorial-social&utm_content=&utm_term=sustainability_partner_&sf115859895=1.
