Hot Times at the High Court: Suncor v. Boulder County and the Future of Climate Change
Date of Event
10-13-2026
Description
In recent years, dozens of state and local governments have filed suit against fossil fuel companies in state courts under state law seeking compensation for present and anticipated harms caused by climate change. One of these cases, Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, is the first case on the U.S. Supreme Court's docket for the October 2026 term. In Suncor, the justices are asked to decide whether federal law or the Constitution preempts state law-based tort claims against companies that produce or market fossil fuels seeking damages for the consequences of climate change. The resulting decision could have widespread implications for climate change policy, as well as for the American system of federalism. This event will review the issues and arguments before the Supreme Court in Suncor, analyze the oral argument, and consider the case's broader implications.
Subject Headings
Suncor v. Boulder County; climate litigation
Location
A62 (CWRU members); Virtual (others)
Document Type
Video
Recommended Citation
Adler, Jonathan and Salamanca, Paul, "Hot Times at the High Court: Suncor v. Boulder County and the Future of Climate Change" (2026). Conferences and Symposia. 1174.
https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/law_videos_general/1174