Big Oil Takes California to Court Over Climate Change Rules

ExxonMobil is taking California to court over new laws that want the company to be open about its climate impact. The laws say big companies like Exxon must share details about the greenhouse gases they produce, both directly and indirectly. The company says these laws force them to share information they think is wrong. They argue it violates their right to free speech. The laws cover three types of emissions: direct emissions, indirect emissions from energy use, and emissions from the company's supply chain. ExxonMobil says the laws unfairly blame them for climate change. They also say the laws make them guess about future events and share those guesses publicly. The company is not happy about this and has filed a lawsuit. California, however, stands by its laws. They say the laws have been upheld in court before and they believe they are doing the right thing. The state also points out that these laws are just about sharing information, not changing how companies do business. Other big business groups have also sued California over these laws. A judge has already said the laws do not violate free speech rights. The case is still ongoing and will go to trial in 2026. Supporters of the laws say they help fight greenwashing, where companies make false claims about their environmental efforts. They say these laws are important for making big cuts in emissions to fight climate change.