Multnomah County Sues Big Oil for Climate Damages Caused by Heat Dome and Wildfires

State Officials and Advocates Laud the County for Holding the Fossil Fuel Industry Accountable for the Destruction it’s Caused to Oregon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2023 

Contact: 
Nick Caleb: 541-891-6761, nick@breachcollective.org

PORTLAND, OR – Today, Multnomah County filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against major oil and gas companies in Oregon state court. The county seeks to hold giant fossil fuel companies like Exxon, Shell, and Chevron accountable for decades of deception and climate pollution that fueled the 2021 Pacific Northwest Heat Dome that killed 69 residents in the county and the recent wildfires in the region. In addition, the complaint names associations and consultants like the Western States Petroleum Association and McKinsey as defendants for their efforts of deliberately misinforming the public and regulators about the causes and expected impacts of climate change.

Nick Caleb, Climate and Energy Attorney at Breach Collective, said: 

“This lawsuit is unique in that it seeks to hold big fossil fuel companies and their corporate allies directly accountable for the harm and destruction of the heat dome event of 2021, and to make them pay for future expected harms we will experience from climate change. This action is consistent with Multnomah County’s continual efforts over the last decade to protect the public from the many risks the fossil fuel industry poses to public health and the environment.” 

Oregon State Representative Khanh Pham (D, District 46, SE Portland) said:

“The fossil fuel industry wields enormous power and uses it to consistently undermine laws and policies that would hold them accountable. I experience this first hand as a state representative. We need lawsuits like Multnomah v. Exxon if we are going to secure a habitable planet for young people and future generations.”

This lawsuit comes just as reporting shows that big oil once again made record profits in 2022, with over $200 billion in profits between Exxon, Shell, Chevron, Total Energies, and BP alone.

The County’s lawsuit seeks $50 million in actual damages and $1.5 billion in future damages. In addition, the County seeks to create an abatement fund of at least $50 billion, to study, plan, and upgrade the public health care services and infrastructure that will be necessary to protect County residents from future extreme heat events.

Oregon State Representative Mark Gamba (D, District 41, Milwaukie), said:

“The fossil fuel industry’s legacy of knowingly polluting and wreaking havoc on Oregon and the rest of the planet is beyond abhorrent. Not only do these companies need to pay for the harm they’ve already caused, but they must front the resources for our resilience and adaptation efforts moving forward. I applaud the County for this brave and forward thinking  action and encourage other jurisdictions as well as the state to follow suit.” 

Danny Noonan, Climate and Energy Strategist at Breach Collective, said:

“Alongside the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, the June 2021 Heat Dome was the most terrifying climate disaster I have experienced. What’s more frightening is that it’s just a harbinger of even worse disasters to come. Oregon has been ravaged by climate change in the last few years, while fossil fuel corporations have continued to drive up prices, deceive the public, and collect record profits. It’s high time they pay up, which is exactly what this lawsuit seeks.”

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