Hoping for the Success They Had Against Tobacco, State Attorney Generals Unite to Fight Climate Change

Just as the states found that the tobacco industry knew its product was addictive and caused lung cancer — but was negligent in telling smokers about those risks — AGs hope to expose that the oil and gas industry knew of the climate risks associated with carbon dioxide emissions but funded research to cover them up.

Made up of attorneys general from 15 states as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the coalition says it will also fight to protect the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.

"With gridlock and dysfunction gripping Washington, it is up to the states to lead on the generation-defining issue of climate change," Schneiderman said. "We stand ready to defend the next president’s climate change agenda, and vow to fight any efforts to roll back the meaningful progress we’ve made over the past eight years."

by Elizabeth Daigneau

Full Story: http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-tobacco-climate-lawsuits.html