Exxon's facility sits on the edge of the Mystic River, which is at grave risk from a toxic spill.
Last week, CLF crossed a major milestone in our case against oil giant ExxonMobil when a federal judge in Boston ruled that our lawsuit could move forward.
For decades, ExxonMobil has left communities in Massachusetts in harm’s way by failing to fortify its Everett, Massachusetts, oil distribution terminal against the impacts of climate change. One strong storm could put this terminal underwater – flooding nearby neighborhoods with toxic chemicals, some of which are known to cause cancer.
Exxon was in court last week to get our case dismissed, with its lawyers claiming that extreme weather is not an imminent threat. On the heels of the severe storms that struck the south this month, which left countless families homeless and exposed to toxic pollution, Exxon’s arguments were ironic at best – and heartless at worst.
Ultimately, the judge disagreed with Exxon and stated that storm surge, severe rainstorms, and sea-level rise are indeed imminent threats today.
This isn’t the time to debate whether climate change is at the root of such extreme weather – science settled that debate long ago. The question now is whether Exxon will step up to its responsibilities and make its facility climate-ready or whether it will continue to fail its neighbors by ignoring the climate impacts its own scientists have warned about for decades.
We’re determined to hold ExxonMobil accountable to the law, to its Everett and Chelsea neighbors, and to all you. This fight won’t be won overnight, but we won’t back down until we win.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our work – you are vital to our success.
