Fossil fuel firms face potential homicide charges over climate deceit

As climate activists label climate change not as a tragedy but a crime, there's a growing call to prosecute fossil fuel companies for homicide, citing their deep knowledge of—and deceit about—the catastrophic impacts of their products on global warming.

Aaron Regunberg and David Arkush report for The New Republic.

In short:

Fossil fuel giants have knowingly contributed to climate change while misleading the public and are now facing lawsuits and calls for criminal prosecution.
Legal strategies are shifting towards treating their actions as criminal, with charges like fraud and homicide being considered due to their significant impact on global warming.
Civil litigation remains crucial, but criminal law offers a unique avenue to enforce moral and societal norms, pushing for substantial corporate reform.

Why this matters:

The battle against fossil fuel companies transcends legal realms into moral and ethical grounds. It represents a pivotal moment in addressing climate change, aiming to correct systemic injustices and push for meaningful environmental policy changes. This approach not only seeks to mitigate future damage but also redefines corporate responsibility in the age of climate awareness.

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a bridge that is lit up at night with wave breaking on a nearby lake shore in foreground.

Credit: Brad Switzer/Unsplash

Tribes exit pipeline negotiations in Michigan over lack of consultation

Seven Indigenous nations in Michigan have walked away from federal talks over a proposed oil pipeline tunnel, citing a lack of meaningful engagement and treaty violations.

Izzy Ross reports for Grist and Interlochen Public Radio.

In short:

The tribes oppose Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project, which would replace part of a 72-year-old pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac, a critical freshwater corridor between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
Their withdrawal follows the Army Corps of Engineers’ move to fast-track permitting under President Trump’s energy emergency order, which tribes say dismisses their environmental and legal concerns.
Tribal leaders and legal advocates argue that the project threatens water resources and violates both U.S. treaty obligations and international law requiring Indigenous consent.

Key quote:

“Tribal Nations are no longer willing to expend their time and resources as Cooperating Agencies just so their participation may be used by the Corps to lend credibility to a flawed [Environmental Impact Statement] process and document.”

— Letter from seven Indigenous nations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Why this matters:

Buried beneath the Straits of Mackinac, where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge, Line 5 has become a flashpoint in the battle over fossil fuel infrastructure, Indigenous sovereignty, and environmental protection. The aging oil and gas pipeline — operated by Canadian energy giant Enbridge — moves millions of gallons of crude and natural gas liquids daily through a region that holds 20% of the planet’s surface freshwater. A proposed tunnel to house a replacement segment beneath the lakebed has drawn fierce opposition from tribal nations, who warn it risks catastrophic spills and continued desecration of sacred territory.

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