SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — San Diego County's Board of Supervisors will decide whether to voice its support for California's lawsuit against Big Oil.
This litigation claims that the world's largest oil companies have known about the effects of burning fossil fuels for decades, but used misleading ad campaigns to downplay the danger in order to maintain billions of dollars in profits.
This vote by the Board of Supervisors would demonstrate San Diego County's support for this lawsuit by the state.
Much like previous litigation against Big Tobacco and Big Pharma, this suit is seeking money from Big Oil to pay for the hundreds of billions of dollars of climate damage it has allegedly caused here in California.
"We are here today to stand up to Big Oil," said County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer.
She's throwing her support behind California's lawsuit against the world's five biggest oil companies: Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Conoco Philips and BP, as well as their lobbying group, the American Petroleum Institute.
"I want Big Oil to know that the San Diego county government won't stand for their lies and deceptions," Lawson-Remer added.
This lawsuit filed by California's Attorney General Rob Bonta, claims that these oil companies have intentionally misled the public about the reality of climate change and the dangers of fossil fuels.
"Big Oil has known for many decades that burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming, climate change and negative effects on our environment," said Chris Roberts of San Diego 350.
"Their own scientists were warning about the environmental and health impacts of their actions. as early as the 1950s and 60s," added Emma Weibel of Youth v. Oil, a youth-led campaign by San Diego 350.
Part of this lawsuit demands that these companies help fund recovery efforts connected to extreme events here in California that -- according to this litigation -- have been accelerated by human-caused climate change, including floods, droughts and wildfires.
Case in point: the series of atmospheric river storms that battered Southeast San Diego in January, "resulting in greater than 1000 citizens losing their homes, and more than 600 buildings damaged," Robert said. "The effects of that storm will be felt for years to come."
In response, the American Petroleum Institute has called the lawsuit "meritless," adding that "Climate policy is for Congress to debate and decide, not the court system."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom disagrees.
"The issue is fossil fuels and the issue is the deceit from these companies," he said, speaking earlier during Climate Week in New York City.
Newsom highlighted the purpose of filing this lawsuit on behalf of Californians.
"It can illuminate their deceit," he said. "It can illuminate their deception, their lies over the course of 50, 60, 70 years they've been lying to you."
The County Board of Supervisors meeting starts Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the County Administration Center.
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