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Council Meeting/Documents/Sue Big Oil Presentation
Presentation

Sue Big Oil Presentation

June 6, 2023Pages 39–519 sections

A presentation by the View Royal Climate Coalition and West Coast Environmental Law regarding the Sue Big Oil class action lawsuit campaign.

5.a) View Royal Climate Coalition and Andrew Gage, West Coast Environmental Law, Re: Sue Big Oil Class Action Law Suit
Calls for setting aside at least $1 per person for a community fund to sue Big OilStratcom 2022 survey: 39% strongly support suing oil companiesGibsons committed to campaign on March 10, 2023www.suebigoil.ca

Human-CO2 emissions by year

[Chart: Line and area graph showing global human-CO2 emissions from 1900 to 2020. The emissions show a steady increase, accelerating significantly after 1950. The area under the curve from approximately 1990 onwards is shaded red and labeled with the text "WHY?"]

Page 39–51

Three Decades of Climate Mitigation: Why Haven't We Bent the Global Emissions Curve?

Abstract snippet for the article "Three Decades of Climate Mitigation: Why Haven't We Bent the Global Emissions Curve?" published in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol. 46, October 2021, by Isak Stoddard, Kevin Anderson, and others.
Abstract snippet for the article "Three Decades of Climate Mitigation: Why Haven't We Bent the Global Emissions Curve?" published in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Vol. 46, October 2021, by Isak Stoddard, Kevin Anderson, and others.
Silhouette of a forest against a backdrop of intense orange flames and dark smoke from a wildfire.
Silhouette of a forest against a backdrop of intense orange flames and dark smoke from a wildfire.

Who benefits from and should pay for the fossil fuel economy and climate change?

[Diagram: Venn diagram consisting of three circles:]

  • Left circle (red): Fossil fuel industry profits
  • Right circle (red): Our communities pay the costs of climate change
  • Center overlap (teal): Everyone – including fossil fuel companies - pays their fair share of climate costs
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Victory Will be Achieved When

  • Global Climate Science Communications Plan, 1998
  • Average citizens “understand” (recognize) uncertainties in climate science; recognition of uncertainties becomes part of the “conventional wisdom” …
  • Those promoting the Kyoto [climate] treaty on the basis of extant science appear to be out of touch with reality.
Close-up of parched, dry earth with deep cracks.
Close-up of parched, dry earth with deep cracks.
News headline from The Guardian: "BP scales back climate goals as profits more than double to £23bn. Energy company faces calls for toughened windfall tax as it reaps rewards from high gas prices."
News headline from The Guardian: "BP scales back climate goals as profits more than double to £23bn. Energy company faces calls for toughened windfall tax as it reaps rewards from high gas prices."
News headline from Bloomberg: "Shell Hits the Brakes on Growing Renewables Unit After Record 2022 Profit. Company aims to focus investments to boost shareholder value. Low-carbon energy spending has grown as Shell aims to cut CO2."
News headline from Bloomberg: "Shell Hits the Brakes on Growing Renewables Unit After Record 2022 Profit. Company aims to focus investments to boost shareholder value. Low-carbon energy spending has grown as Shell aims to cut CO2."

“We call on our local governments to:

  • take urgent action to reduce our fossil fuel use and protect us from future heat waves, wildfires, flooding and other climate impacts;
  • set aside at least $1 per person towards a community fund to sue Big Oil;
  • join with other local governments to file a class action lawsuit to recover a fair share of our climate costs;
  • work to build equitable, sustainable systems for...
A woman standing at a campaign table for "Sue Big Oil" holding a clipboard and a sticker.
A woman standing at a campaign table for "Sue Big Oil" holding a clipboard and a sticker.
Page 39–51

Legally possible

A man in a hat holding up a legal document in a celebratory gesture, leading a group of people.
A man in a hat holding up a legal document in a celebratory gesture, leading a group of people.
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Financially manageable

Graphic illustration of a globe of the Earth showing North and South America.
Graphic illustration of a globe of the Earth showing North and South America.
A hand inserting a Canadian loonie coin into a slot at the top of a globe of the Earth.
A hand inserting a Canadian loonie coin into a slot at the top of a globe of the Earth.
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Is Popular

“Some people say that instead of local communities and taxpayers paying all of the increasing costs of climate change, local governments in BC should work together to sue the world’s most polluting oil companies to make them pay for a share of these costs. Do you support or oppose this idea?” (Stratcom, 2022)

[Diagram: Pie chart showing public support for suing oil companies:]

  • Strongly Support: 39%
  • Somewhat Support: 30%
  • Somewhat Oppose: 12%
  • Strongly Oppose: 7%
  • Don’t Know: 12%
Silhouette of a forest against a backdrop of intense orange flames and dark smoke from a wildfire.
Silhouette of a forest against a backdrop of intense orange flames and dark smoke from a wildfire.
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Benefits – once lawsuit filed

  • A judge confirms that the case discloses a cause of action.
  • Fossil fuel companies disclose that they are being sued to their investors.
  • Companies take steps to demonstrate that they are acting responsibly.
  • Governments and investors see climate litigation as a risk favouring transition away from fossil fuels.
  • Public conversation about the costs of...
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Benefits – when we win

  • Local governments get needed resources to prepare for climate change.
  • Fossil fuel companies, investors and governments record climate costs as a liability on their balance sheets, modifying their business decisions.
  • Court precedent.
  • Pressure for better international climate treaties.
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Gibsons commits to the Sue Big Oil campaign

Town to work with other local governments in B.C. to file a class action lawsuit to recover costs from global fossil fuel companies.

Connie Jordison Mar 10, 2023 12:50 PM

Group photo of representatives from Sunshine Coast Sue Big Oil standing outside Gibsons town hall.
Group photo of representatives from Sunshine Coast Sue Big Oil standing outside Gibsons town hall.

www.suebigoil.ca agage@wcel.org

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Document Images

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Extracted from: 2023 06 06 Council Agenda - Agenda - Pdf