This might be the wildest news story I’ve seen all year: the California government is suing five Big Oil companies for lying about their contribution to climate change. The government! And not any government, but California – the biggest state economy in the U.S. The fifth biggest economy in the world. This means something, right? It must.

THE DETAILS: California is suing Exxon, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and BP in the San Francisco County Superior Court. The suit alleges the corporations have known about the link between fossil fuels and catastrophic climate change since the 1950s, but have been actively suppressing information and spreading disinformation since the 1970s to delay climate action. Because California has already spent "tens of billions of dollars" and will have to spend even more to address climate change, the lawsuit wants the oil companies to pay for the damage they have caused. California wants to set up a fund dedicated to recovery from extreme weather & ongoing climate effects – if they win, the ruling would force the oil companies to contribute to the fund. You can read more about the case here.

We’ve covered many of these ‘climate accountability’ lawsuits over the past few years, including strong cases in Australia. The movement is building, with the UN Environment Programme reporting that climate-related lawsuits have doubled in just five years. And it looks like they’re working? Analysis of rulings from May 2022 to May 2023 found 55% had a ‘climate-positive’ outcome. Even when rulings don’t deliver a ‘win’ for people and planet, the lawsuits are encouraging us to consider who is responsible for the hellscape we’re inheriting (and reject the “personal responsibility” narrative).

But it’s usually activists, private citizens or community groups suing the government. For a state govt as big as California to sue the oil companies (for lying!!!) really takes it to another level. Chevron’s HQ is in California. The state is one of the biggest oil and gas producers in the country.

What would it look like for an Australian state or, god forbid, federal government to do the same? Indulge me in this for a minute! Imagine the West Australian government taking Rio Tinto to court for (theoretically) financially blackmailing it into approving the Juukan Gorge excavation? If the Northern Territory alleged Santos pressured it to allow fracking in the Beetaloo basin? Of course that’s just fiction. It’s not happening… now.

But it could be a possibility in the future. The argument is that mining companies have directly caused the catastrophes to come, and have knowingly done so in order to make trillions of dollars. Climate emergencies will keep getting more expensive. And they’re already happening more frequently.

It’s estimated to cost $73 billion per year to recover from the 2019 bushfires alone. Where will that money come from? How does Australia pay for climate future-proofing that experts are crying out for? The federal budget surplus ($22 billion) is expected to be the last surplus for 50 years. As the financial costs of the climate crisis continue to stack up, and the public gets more furious at govts for failing to act… if I was a politician, I know who I’d be asking to foot the bill.

California’s “sue ‘em!” strategy is not without criticism. Oil & gas used to be a big part of the state’s economy, but these days it’s only around 2%. The government has financially benefited from the industry and is only acting now because there’s not as much left to gain. Australia is not in that position. Most of our politicians know the industry is killing us, they know it’s going to get worse, but the economy is too reliant on fossil fuels – they’re trapped. The money prevents them from making the policy decisions they actually want to make.

The relationship between fossil fuel corps & policymakers in 2023 must be tense. Close, but tense. The 2050 deadline is too soon. This lawsuit is the first sign that one government, at least, has had enough.

– Crystal
Founder & Chief of Everything at Zee Feed
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Good stuff on Zee Feed rn:

This is a classic Crystal rant, inspired by the well-meaning progressives who feel the need to respond to every single problematic take they see. Stop! You’re making it worse! CLICK HERE TO READ.

Smart stuff on the Internet 💭

All the stuff I found on the web that made me think, smile, or have an ‘aha!’ moment. Spend your Sunday reading them – you'll be better off for it:

‘Do not be alone in a room with him’: how Australia’s comedy scene deals with its ‘open secrets’ on Guardian Australia
"Guardian Australia spoke to one male comedy professional, under the condition of anonymity, who has booked comedy shows for a decade. In terms of open secrets, ‘there’s one guy in particular who is a fucking monster’, he says, and a handful more who he believes enough about to blacklist."

Raising Kids Is the ‘Best Job in the World.’ Why Is Caring for the Elderly the Worst? on The Cut
Ignoring the sensationalist headline – this is a thoughtful piece about the challenge the awaits many of us. “There is no “You’re doing great, Mama” discourse on Facebook for those who care for elders. We are still very much in the era where caring for old people is considered a dreadful task worthy of pity. Nobody wants to hear about it.”

The Rupert Murdoch Retirement Myth on Politico
“The colossus that Murdoch built will be controlled by his four children on the long-shot chance that he ever dies. The Murdoch kids, like Logan Roy’s kids, are likely to go Gaboon viper on one another once Rupert takes the eternal death nap. It would take only two votes among the four to destabilize the current arrangement, and the FT predicts, quite rationally, that the kids will vote Lachlan out as soon that happens and perhaps all that the old man built will be sold off, bit by bit, for parts.”

From now until the Oct 14 referendum, I’m recommending perspectives from our big list of First Nations opinions on the Voice each week:

• YES: Grassroots Sovereign Blackfulla, Jill Gallagher talks about why she is voting 'yes' at the referendum (PODCAST)

• NO: Public Statement from Dr. Gondarra clan leader of the Yolŋu Nation (READ)

• UNDECIDED: Descendants of Pinjarra massacre survivors hope Voice to Parliament brings healing, truth-telling (READ)

• CONTEXT: Successful uses of a Voice overseas (READ)

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