Climate Activists Should Use Antitrust Laws Against Big Oil - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the legal challenges faced by climate activists in holding Big Oil companies accountable for their role in climate change. A notable lawsuit filed by Puerto Rico against major fossil fuel companies such as ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, Shell, and ConocoPhillips accused them of misleading the public about climate change and delaying the transition to clean energy despite internal scientific knowledge of their products' harmful effects. However, this lawsuit was dismissed due to the statute of limitations, which typically allows only three years to file such claims, and Puerto Rico's suit was filed too late following Hurricane Maria in 2017. Despite this setback, the article highlights a new legal strategy proposed by Aaron Regunberg and Zephyr Teachout, who suggest using antitrust laws to challenge Big Oil. They argue that antitrust laws, which are designed to prevent collusion and protect market competition, could effectively address the fossil fuel industry's coordinated efforts to block renewable energy development and maintain market dominance. The article cites internal Exxon memos acknowledging the