(Adds comment from city, details from decision, background)
NEW YORK, April 1 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on
Thursday rejected New York City's effort to hold five major oil
companies liable to help pay the costs of addressing harm caused
by global warming.
Ruling in favor of BP Plc, Chevron Corp,
ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil Corp and Royal Dutch
Shell Plc, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in
Manhattan said the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions should
be addressed under federal law and international treaties.
It rejected the city's efforts to sue under state law for
trespass and creating a nuisance.
"Global warming presents a uniquely international problem of
national concern," Circuit Judge Richard Sullivan wrote for a
three-judge panel. "It is therefore not well-suited to the
application of state law."
New York City's lawsuit was one of the earliest efforts by
U.S. states and municipalities to turn to the judiciary and
invoke state law in seeking help to address climate change.
Nick Paolucci, a spokesman for the city's law department,
said the city is disappointed it could not hold the oil
companies "accountable for the environmental damage they knew
their products would cause."
The companies did not immediately respond to requests for
comment.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Sebastien Malo in New York
Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis)
BP (BP.)
