And almost half of respondents back the filing of criminal charges against oil companies that have contributed to the climate crisis
As US communities take big oil to court for allegedly deceiving the public about the climate crisis, polling shared with the Guardian shows that a majority of voters support the litigation, while almost half would back an even more aggressive legal strategy of filing criminal charges.
The poll, which comes as the world’s first-ever criminal climate lawsuit was brought in France last week, could shed light on how, if filed, similar US cases might ruled by a jury.
The 40 existing US lawsuits against major oil companies, filed by cities and states, are based on civil charges such as tort law and racketeering protections. But last year, the consumer advocacy non-profit Public Citizen proposed also filing criminal charges – most notably, homicide – against the companies.
With how much climate anxiety I have I always think about ways I could cut back and use my car as little as possible, which makes it all the more upsetting when my work tries to get me to go back to the office and burn unnecessary fossil fuels, then I remember that the reason they’re doing this is mainly financial justification for the office space and political favors and it’s deeply upsetting.