WASHINGTON (October 5, 2026) – The Supreme Court started its new term today with a high-profile case involving Boulder, Colorado suing two major energy companies. Boulder alleges the companies misled the public about the harms of fossil fuels and contributed to climate-related disasters that have cost the city money for damages.
In 2022, the Marshall Fire destroyed more homes than any wildfire in Colorado, with some survivors continuing to be impacted. Boulder argues that the companies and a trade group knew for decades that fossil fuels could harm the environment and increase the risk of floods, extreme heat and wildfires. The city says it is seeking to recover the costs of repairs, emergency services and property damage.
For more analysis on these developments, please consider Robert L. Glicksman, the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Environmental Law at GW. Glicksman is a nationally and internationally recognized expert on environmental, natural resources, and administrative law issues. Glicksman has consulted on various environmental and natural resources law issues, including work for the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Montreal, Canada.
To schedule an interview, please contact Nadia Payne at nadia [dot] payne
gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu) or GW media at gwmediagwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-