Report on Climate Litigation in Honolulu and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Pursuing Climate Justice through Legal Frameworks

The City of Honolulu has initiated legal proceedings against major fossil fuel corporations, a measure that aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This action represents a significant effort to leverage judicial systems for climate accountability, directly supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The lawsuit, filed in 2020, is a prominent example among approximately 30 similar cases nationwide, but has advanced further through the legal process, positioning it as a potential bellwether for climate litigation.

Core Allegations and Impacts on Sustainable Development

The lawsuit contends that major oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, and Chevron, engaged in a decades-long campaign of public deception regarding the climate impacts of their products. This action directly contravenes the principles of corporate responsibility inherent in the SDG framework.

Threats to Environmental and Urban Sustainability

Honolulu’s legal action details specific environmental and infrastructural damages that undermine key SDGs:

• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The lawsuit cites rising sea levels, ocean warming, the degradation of coral reefs vital for tourism and marine biodiversity, and the depletion of fish stocks as direct consequences of climate change fueled by fossil products.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The city argues that increased frequency of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and heatwaves, and rising sea levels pose a direct threat to the resilience and safety of its urban infrastructure and communities along the Oahu coastline.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The degradation of natural assets like coral reefs threatens the viability of Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy, jeopardizing local livelihoods and sustainable economic growth.

Legal Proceedings and Corporate Defense

The case is currently facing a critical hearing regarding a defense motion for dismissal based on an expired two-year statute of limitations. The defendants argue that the issue of climate change has been in the public domain for over 50 years.

1. Defense Motion: The companies contend that claims are based on publicly known information, thus the statute of limitations has passed. A Shell spokesperson noted the extensive public record on climate change, questioning the credibility of the plaintiff’s claim of unawareness.
2. Plaintiff’s Position: Supported by experts like Harvard Professor Naomi Oreskes, the plaintiff’s argument draws parallels between the fossil fuel industry’s alleged disinformation campaign and that of the tobacco industry, suggesting an organized effort to create public doubt and delay meaningful climate action.
3. Judicial Progress: The case has advanced past initial dismissal motions at the Hawaii Supreme Court level, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal, allowing the case to proceed in state court. This progression underscores the role of strong judicial institutions (SDG 16) in addressing complex environmental challenges.

Wider Context of Climate Action in Hawaii

The Honolulu lawsuit is part of a broader movement within Hawaii to address climate change through legal and policy measures, reflecting a multi-stakeholder approach consistent with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Related Litigation: Similar lawsuits have been filed by Maui County and the State of Hawaii, although they face separate legal challenges, including intervention from the U.S. Department of Justice.
• Youth-Led Climate Action: A landmark settlement was reached in a lawsuit brought by youth activists against the Hawaii Department of Transportation. This agreement commits the state to achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions in its transportation sector by 2045, a significant victory for SDG 13 and a demonstration of effective youth engagement in policy-making.

The outcome of the Honolulu hearing will be closely watched globally, as a trial would compel fossil fuel companies to publicly defend their historical knowledge and actions regarding climate change for the first time, setting a major precedent for climate justice and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The entire article revolves around the issue of climate change, its causes (fossil fuel products creating greenhouse gas pollution), and its consequences. The lawsuit by Honolulu is a direct action to address the “harms” of climate change, as mentioned in the first paragraph.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article specifically mentions the negative impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. It states that Honolulu’s lawsuit blames the companies for “sea level rise,” “ocean warming that will reduce fish stocks and kill coral reefs,” which are core concerns of this goal.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The protagonist of the article is the city of Honolulu, which is taking legal action to protect its infrastructure, environment, and population from climate-related disasters. The article mentions threats like “sea level rise around the island of Oahu’s world-famous coastline,” “hurricanes, heatwaves,” and the “massive wildfire” in Maui County, all of which threaten the sustainability and safety of human settlements.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article details a legal battle where a city is using its judicial system (“state court,” “Hawaii Supreme Court”) to hold powerful corporations accountable. The lawsuit alleges that companies were “deceiving the public,” highlighting issues of corporate accountability, access to justice, and the role of strong institutions in upholding the rule of law.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

     The lawsuit is a response to existing and future climate hazards. The article mentions Honolulu’s vulnerability to “sea level rise,” “hurricanes, heatwaves and other extreme weather,” and the “massive wildfire” in Maui. The legal action seeks damages to address these harms, which is a form of building resilience.

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

     The settlement from a separate lawsuit mentioned at the end of the article is a clear example of this target. It resulted in an agreement for Hawaii’s transportation department “to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions across all transportation modes no later than 2045,” which is a direct integration of climate measures into state-level policy and planning.

2. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.

     The lawsuit directly addresses the degradation of marine and coastal ecosystems. The article states that the city blames fossil fuel companies for impacts that “kill coral reefs” and for “sea level rise around the island of Oahu’s world-famous coastline.” The legal action is an attempt to protect these ecosystems.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters.

     The article highlights the human and economic cost of climate-related disasters, mentioning the wildfire in Lahaina that “killed 102 people.” Honolulu’s lawsuit seeks an “unspecified amount of damages” to cover the economic losses from climate impacts, directly aligning with the goal of decreasing these losses.

   • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters.

     Honolulu’s lawsuit is a clear example of a city implementing a plan (legal action) for climate change adaptation and resilience. The article notes there are “some 30 similar lawsuits nationwide brought by other states, cities and counties,” indicating an increase in cities adopting such strategies.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

     The entire article is about using the legal system to seek justice. Honolulu is leveraging the judicial process, from state court to the Supreme Court, to hold companies accountable. The article states, “Honolulu’s lawsuit has reached this hearing stage, partly because the Hawaii Supreme Court denied motions to dismiss it, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to take it on,” demonstrating the process of seeking justice through the rule of law.

   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

     The lawsuit challenges the accountability of corporations. It argues that major oil companies have profited “while deceiving the public about the role of their products in causing a global climate crisis.” The legal action is an attempt to enforce accountability on these private sector actors.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number and impact of climate-related disasters

  The article mentions specific disasters like “hurricanes, heatwaves” and a “massive wildfire” that “killed 102 people.” The frequency and severity of these events are direct indicators of a community’s vulnerability and the progress (or lack thereof) towards Target 11.5 and 13.1.

• Economic losses from disasters

  The lawsuit seeking an “unspecified amount of damages” implies that economic losses from climate change are being calculated. The amount of damages sought or awarded would be a quantitative indicator for Target 11.5.

State of marine ecosystems

The article mentions the “kill[ing of] coral reefs” and the reduction of “fish stocks.” The health and coverage of coral reefs and the population size of fish stocks are measurable indicators for Target 14.2.

• Number of legal actions and policies for climate change

  The article mentions “some 30 similar lawsuits nationwide” and a specific settlement to “achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions… no later than 2045.” The number of such lawsuits and the adoption of concrete emission reduction policies are clear indicators of progress towards Targets 11.b, 13.2, and 16.3.

• Progression of legal cases

  The status of the lawsuit—”A hearing is scheduled,” “the Hawaii Supreme Court denied motions to dismiss”—serves as an indicator of access to justice and the functioning of legal institutions, relevant to Target 16.3.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: abcnews.go.com