"The plans to "protect" oil companies from "abusive state climate lawsuits" were laid out in a policy agenda from the American Petroleum Institute, the largest oil and gas trade association in the country. In an effort to avoid becoming the next Big Tobacco, according to previous reporting, the oil lobby is hoping to stomp out lawsuits that could result in massive damages, unearth private company documents, and in some cases dramatically alter their marketing practices, before they reach trial."
"API also said it would try to quash the "expansion of climate 'superfund' policies" - state laws that make oil companies fund climate disaster recovery and adaptation, two of which the American Petroleum Institute and other industry allies are challenging in court. The agenda makes official the oil industry's escalating lobbying effort since Trump took office to pressure Congress to pass legislation shielding oil companies from climate cases brought by dozens of state, local, and tribal governments across the country."
The American Petroleum Institute faces numerous climate lawsuits and is moving to prevent state laws and litigation from imposing large financial liabilities on fossil fuel companies. The API's 2026 policy agenda prioritizes protecting companies from what it calls "abusive state climate lawsuits" and seeks to stop expansion of climate "superfund" policies that would require industry funding for disaster recovery and adaptation. Industry allies are already challenging some state laws in court. The agenda formalizes intensified lobbying to push Congress for shielding legislation, and state bills limiting officials' ability to sue have been introduced in Utah and Oklahoma.
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