Multnomah County has recently expanded its climate lawsuit by adding NW Natural and the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine as defendants. The lawsuit was originally filed in 2020 against the fossil fuel industry, accusing them of knowingly contributing to the climate crisis. The addition of NW Natural, a local gas utility company, underscores the county’s effort to hold all industries accountable for their role in climate change.
The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine is also being sued for its promotion of misinformation and denial of climate science. The county’s decision to include these two entities in the lawsuit is seen as a significant step in the fight against climate change. Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson stated, “This legal action is about accountability and acknowledging the role that all industries, including the natural gas industry, have played in causing the climate crisis.”
The lawsuit seeks to hold these companies responsible for the damages caused by their actions and to compel them to take action to reduce their carbon emissions. Multnomah County is committed to taking a stand against those who contribute to the climate crisis and is determined to hold them accountable through legal means. The addition of NW Natural and the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine to the lawsuit is a strategic move to broaden the scope of accountability and to bring attention to the various industries that play a role in exacerbating climate change.
This expansion of the lawsuit demonstrates Multnomah County’s commitment to fighting climate change and seeking justice for those affected by its consequences. The county’s efforts to include more entities in the lawsuit reflect a growing recognition of the need for collective action to address the urgent threat of climate change.
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