ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — Annapolis is not any stranger to flooding and it has lengthy needed to take care of the consequences of rising sea ranges.
Now, the town has filed a lawsuit in opposition to large oil corporations to attempt to maintain them accountable for the prices of local weather change.
In 2019, Metropolis Dock in Annapolis flooded 65 occasions, inflicting companies to shut and making it laborious for folks to get round.
“It comes up out of the drains and floods your entire car parking zone,” Nancy McPherson, Supervisor of Annapolis Marine Artwork Gallery, mentioned.
“It could flood up proper in entrance of the store, ultimately stream into the store, and we’d need to shut down for the day,” Ryan Lamy, Proprietor and Supervisor of Pip’s Dock Avenue Canines, mentioned.
Town says research predict Annapolis might see 350 flooding days a 12 months by 2040.
That’s why the town is beginning to work on flood mitigation tasks, just like the $65 million elevating of Metropolis Dock.
It’s cash they are saying they’re compelled to spend due to the actions of fossil gas corporations and now they’re suing them.
“Our lawsuit seeks to take them to courtroom to get a jury to carry them accountable for the sums that we’ve been having to pay to take care of local weather change,” Michael Lyles, Metropolis of Annapolis legal professional, mentioned.
Filed in Maryland circuit courtroom in Anne Arundel County final month, the town alleges non-public and public nuisance, negligence, failure to warn, trespass and violations of Maryland’s Shopper Projection Act in opposition to 26 corporations, together with ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron.
They declare for years the businesses have identified concerning the penalties of local weather change, however didn’t act.
“Our lawsuit will present that their very own scientists warned them again within the 60s and 70s about these impacts,” Lyles mentioned.
Town says it wants this cash to fund tasks to assist with the impression of flooding.
“With out the cash to assist us with these impacts, we face a bleak future,” Lyles mentioned.
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In a press release, ExxonMobil mentioned that authorized proceedings like this waste thousands and thousands of taxpayer {dollars} and do nothing to advance significant actions that cut back the chance of local weather change. Additionally they name the claims baseless and with out benefit.
The total assertion reads:
“Authorized proceedings like this waste thousands and thousands of {dollars} of taxpayer cash and do nothing to advance significant actions that cut back the dangers of local weather change. ExxonMobil will proceed to put money into efforts to cut back greenhouse fuel emissions whereas assembly society’s rising demand for vitality. We consider the claims are baseless and with out benefit. We look ahead to defending the corporate in courtroom.”
It could take 5 to seven years for this case to get to courtroom, however the metropolis is transferring now with the flood migration tasks.
Town is working with Sher Edling LLP as exterior counsel, on a contingency charge foundation so there are not any out-of-pocket prices to metropolis taxpayers.
Chevron additionally responded to the lawsuit, calling it frivolous:
“The lawsuit filed by the town of Annapolis, Maryland is the most recent in a collection of frivolous lawsuits introduced by the identical non-public plaintiffs’ attorneys. These lawsuits are legally baseless and the courts have repeatedly rejected this type of litigation. Power corporations and their merchandise are important to nationwide safety and the worldwide economic system. Fits like this serve solely to divert consideration and sources away from the collaborative, worldwide efforts which can be crucial to persevering with to develop responses to local weather change. Chevron will proceed working with different stakeholders in the private and non-private sectors to hunt to advance actual options to the challenges of the worldwide vitality transition.”
Shell additionally responded to WJZ’s request for remark with a press release:
“The Shell Group’s place on local weather change has been a matter of public report for many years. We agree that motion is required now on local weather change, we totally assist the necessity for society to transition to a lower-carbon future and we’re dedicated to enjoying our half by addressing our personal emissions and serving to clients to cut back theirs. Because the vitality system evolves, so will our enterprise, to offer the combo of merchandise that our clients want and lengthen the financial and social advantages of vitality entry to everybody.”
“Addressing a problem as large as local weather change requires a very collaborative, society-wide strategy. We don’t consider the courtroom is the proper venue to deal with local weather change, however that good coverage from authorities, supported by inclusive motion from all enterprise sectors, together with ours, and from civil society, is the suitable approach to attain options and drive progress.”
The American Petroleum Institute additionally issued a press release to WJZ from its senior vice chairman and chief authorized officer Paul Alfonso:
“The report of the previous twenty years demonstrates that the trade has achieved its purpose of offering reasonably priced, dependable American vitality to U.S. customers whereas considerably lowering emissions and our environmental footprint. Any suggestion on the contrary is fake.”
BP didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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