When Americans are expected to conform to the law, it’s essential for them to know where different kinds of law reside. Laws governing murder and burglary are left to the states; authority over immigration law rests with the federal government. But where exactly lies climate law, if such a thing even exists?
That is the question before the Supreme Court this term in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County. The case began when the Colorado county filed suit in state court against two oil and gas companies, Suncor and ExxonMobil, for financial damages. It alleges that these multinational corporations, by selling and promoting fossil fuels across the country and beyond, knowingly contributed to global climate change. As a result of these actions, Boulder contends, the county faces higher costs from extreme weather.
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