Episode Details

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is facing a new legal challenge after the federal government sued the state over its climate deception lawsuit against major oil and gas companies.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed the complaint in early May, arguing Minnesota is overstepping its authority by trying to hold companies accountable in state court for global greenhouse gas emissions. The original lawsuit, first filed by Ellison in 2020, targets ExxonMobil, Koch Industries and the American Petroleum Institute. It alleges the companies misled the public about the risks of climate change in order to protect their business interests.

University of Minnesota law professor James Coleman joined MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss why the new federal lawsuit could have implications for climate litigation cases across the country and what options Minnesota may have moving forward.