Tong Takes On Exxon

Connecticut’s attorney general is suing Exxon Mobil over climate change — and New Haven’s mayor says the city has a multi-million-dollar stake in the outcome.

Attorney General William Tong announced the lawsuit at a press conference Monday at Long Wharf. His complaint accuses Exxon Mobil of decades of intentional misinformation and deception of the American public about climate change.

Speaking to a crowd of lawyers, activists and local government officials at the Canal Dock Boathouse, Tong said that the case has been ​“building up for two years now, to make sure we have the strongest arguments possible.”

Building the Case

“Exxon Mobil has known about climate change as far as the 1950’s,” said Tong. ​“They were in a unique position to develop climate science, and there are many documents from scientists which prove that they knew about all the effects we’re seeing today.” 

Exxon Mobil began this research to better improve their own fossil fuel collection, he said. Tong gave the example of Exxon’s drilling platforms, which were ​“designed to adapt to rising sea levels.”

Exxon initially shared this knowledge with the public. ​“Growing up in Connecticut, I definitely learned about climate change,” said Tong. ​“Some of that information came from Exxon Mobil.”

This all changed in the 1980s. ​“They switched course and made the irresponsible decision to prioritize their own profits over human lives,” said Tong. ​“They knew about rising sea levels, hotter temperatures, and increasing storms. And they didn’t just stay quiet — they denied it was happening.”

Matt Levine, an associate attorney general, was tasked by Tong to develop this case along with a team of 15 lawyers.

“Exxon Mobil engaged in a massive PR campaign to deceive the public,” Levine said. ​“Whether through editorials or advertisements in the New York Times, Exxon was committed to greenwashing their company and denying reality.”

“We’ll be using the Connecticut Unfair Trading Practices Act (CUTPA),” said Levine. ​“It’s actually very simple: Exxon lied to their consumers, and should be held accountable.”

“We’re in a unique position here, because CUTPA doesn’t have a statue of limitations,” said Tong. ​“We can go back and paint the whole picture, using evidence from the 1950s and onwards. Other states simply can’t do that.”

All of the documents submitted in the initial plea are available to the public. ​“We gathered so many memos and presentations, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tong. ​“I’m very confident that when we subpoena, we will find even more evidence.”

Why just Exxon Mobil? ​“We decided to approach only one defendant because it would make our case very simple,” said Tong. ​“And Exxon is the biggest and baddest out there: they are the leader in the industry, and had all the resources.”

Moreover, suing Exxon sends a message to other companies, he said: ​“We want others to know that deception can and will be held accountable.

Tong is seeking unspecified monetary damages to offset costs of climate change remediationalready undertaken by the state.

“We want to ensure that the funds go to those most affected by climate change, especially low income areas, so we’ll be working with local advocates and activists to determine that breakdown,” said Tong.

Asked for comment, Exxon responded with the following message: ​“Legal proceedings like this waste millions of dollars of taxpayer money and do nothing to advance meaningful actions that reduce the risks of climate change. ExxonMobil will continue to invest in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while meeting society’s growing demand for energy. The claims are baseless and without merit. We look forward to defending the company in court.”

Tong predicted this response. ​“The greenwashing and propaganda isn’t over,” he warned. ​“Exxon is still trying to pretend they’re funding reusable fuels like biowaste, but it’s a small part of what they actually intend to do. They’re trying to trick us again.” 

Climate change in New Haven

Tong’s lawsuit comes at a timely moment for New Haven. ​“In the last month, we’ve seen the effects of storms like Tropical Storm Isaias and the afternoon of Hurricane Linda,” he said.

Mayor Justin Elicker echoed this sentiment: ​“We’re already seeing the effects of climate change in New Haven, both through rising sea levels and increased intensity of rain.”

The city’s infrastructure will need to be updated to respond to these new threats, he added, causing a massive burden on taxpayers.

These projects are not insignificant: construction of a sand berm in Morris Cove will cost $1.9 million, requiring private development to install stormwater infrastructure will cost them $2.5 million, and protecting the shores at Long Wharf and East Shore Park will cost $8 million.

“That’s valuable money that could have been bettering our city, or at the very least, supporting those affected by climate change,” said Mayor Elicker. ​“Instead, it’s going to something that could have been prevented years ago.”

“Beyond monetary compensation, we just want the truth,” said Tong. ​“Stop deceiving the public, and own up to your lies.”