STATE OF HAWAIʻI PREVAILS: FEDERAL CASE SEEKING TO BLOCK FOSSIL FUEL CLAIMS DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE
News Release 2026-17 from Department of the Attorney General, April 15, 2026
HONOLULU – The state of Hawaiʻi today secured a significant legal victory in federal court, with the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi issuing an order dismissing a lawsuit filed by the United States, that sought to stop Hawaiʻi’s separate lawsuit filed in state court against major fossil fuel companies.
In April of last year, the United States sued the state of Hawai‘i, Governor Josh Green and Attorney General Anne Lopez in federal court after learning that the state would be filing its own action to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for decades of deceptive marketing practices in Hawai‘i. The state filed its lawsuit as planned and asked the federal court to dismiss the United States’ separate case.
In a decisive ruling, the federal court granted the state’s motion, agreeing with its argument that the United States lacks standing to sue over hypothetical allegations that imposing liability on fossil fuel companies will have some harmful future effects on the federal government.
The court also recognized that, contrary to the United States’ allegations, Hawaiʻi’s state case seeks only to recover damages for harmful and deceptive marketing undertaken by fossil fuel companies in Hawaiʻi; not to regulate international greenhouse gas emissions.
The court’s decision comes roughly a year after President Trump ordered the U.S. Department of Justice to take legal action against any state efforts to combat climate change, and three months after a similar case against the state of Michigan was dismissed.
“The climate crisis is here and Hawaiʻi taxpayers should not have to foot that bill when fossil fuel companies deceived and failed to warn consumers about the climate dangers lurking in their products. The climate-deception lawsuit is about holding those parties accountable and shifting the costs of surviving the climate crisis back where they belong,” said Governor Green. “Today’s decision allows the state to continue doing just that.”
“The United States’ lawsuit was an example of gross federal overreach. The Department of the Attorney General is thrilled that the Court agreed with our arguments and dismissed the United States’ complaint in its entirety,” said Attorney General Lopez. “My department will continue to fight deceptive practices that erode Hawaiʻi’s public health, natural resources and economy.”
With the federal case dismissed, Hawaiʻi’s lawsuit against fossil fuel companies will proceed in state court.
A copy of the court’s order can be found here.
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SA: Trump administration bid to block Hawaii climate lawsuit is rejected | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
SN: Court thwarts fed attempt to block state's fossil fuel suit
BL: Hawaii Can Sue Fossil Fuel Companies in State Court, Judge Finds
EE: Judge rejects Trump DOJ’s bid to block Hawaii climate lawsuit - E&E News by POLITICO
NYT: Court Rejects Trump Administration Climate Lawsuit Against Hawaii - The New York Times
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Trump Admin Sues To Block Blue States From Taking Fossil Fuel Companies To Court Over Climate Change
UPDATE: Complete Debunk: Hawaii AG Files Climate Change Lawsuit in State Court
by Audrey Streb, Daily Caller News Foundation, May 01, 2025
The Trump administration filed lawsuits Wednesday against Michigan and Hawaii (UPDATE: and New York and Vermont) in an attempt to block the states from seeking damages in court against fossil fuel companies for alleged environmental harm.
The complaint filed against Michigan, the state’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, claims that Michigan’s anticipated lawsuit against the fossil fuel industry interferes with U.S. policy on greenhouse gas regulation and is an “extraordinary extraterritorial reach.” Similarly, the complaint against Hawaii, the state’s Democratic Gov. Josh Green and the state’s Attorney General Anne Lopez, was filed due to the state’s plan to take legal action against fossil fuel companies for their alleged impact on climate change.
Though neither state has filed a lawsuit as of yet, the planned legal actions could drive up energy prices and interfere with how fossil fuel production is regulated, according to the complaints filed by lawyers with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
“At a time when States should be contributing to a national effort to secure reliable sources of domestic energy, Michigan is choosing to stand in the way,” the complaint said. “This Nation’s Constitution and laws do not tolerate this interference,” it continues. The complaint against Hawaii repeats near-identical language.
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BACKGROUND:
DOCUMENTS:
COVERAGE:
- JDS: Trump Administration Files Preemptive Lawsuits Against Hawaii and Michigan to Block Climate Change Litigation | Mintz - JDSupra
- KHON April 28, 2025: Hawaii to file lawsuit against fossil fuel companies | KHON2
- IJ: Trump Administration Sues Michigan to Halt State’s Fossil Fuel Lawsuit Plan
- AP: Justice Department sues Hawaii, Michigan over plans to combat climate harm | AP News
- B: Trump DOJ Sues to Block Michigan and Hawaii Climate Change Suits
- NYT: Hawaii Announced a Climate Lawsuit. So the Government Sued Hawaii First. - The New York Times
- FB: Trump Admin Sues Michigan and Hawaii Over States' Plans To Pursue Climate Damages From Oil and Gas Industry
- WT: Trump DOJ sues Michigan, Hawaii over planned climate change lawsuits against oil companies - Washington Times
- L360: Feds Sue To Block Hawaii, Michigan Climate Lawsuits - Law360
- NYP: Justice Department sues Hawaii, Michigan, Vermont and New York over state climate actions
- R: Trump administration sues four Democratic-led states to block climate laws, lawsuits | Reuters
- AP: Justice Department sues Hawaii, Michigan, Vermont and New York over state climate actions - ABC News
- TG: Justice department sues Michigan and Hawaii over climate suits against big oil | Trump administration | The Guardian
- CN: Trump sues states over potential climate change action | Courthouse News Service
- CN: Hawaii sues oil companies | Courthouse News Service
- HNN: Hawaii sues big oil companies for climate deception, despite DOJ attempt to block lawsuit
- Hawai`i Sues Big Oil for Climate Deception | Center for Climate Integrity (CLUE: CCI is Sher-Edling)
- J: US Justice Department sues four states over climate initiatives - JURIST - News