Photo: Getty Images
Imperial Beach was one of the first small cities to take action against some of the U.S.'s largest oil companies.
In July 2017, Imperial Beach filed a lawsuit that claims oil giants like ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, and over 30 other fossil-fuel companies should have to pay the huge costs of defending the city from rising sea levels caused by climate change; a crisis worsened by these companies, who have also have lied about the evidence of climate change for decades.
When Imperial Beach filed its case so did two other California counties, Marin and San Mateo reports the Guardian.
Now, the mayor of Imperial Beach, Serge Dedina, is being targeted by ExxonMobil and its allies, accusing him of colluding with other California public officials to attack the fossil-fuel industry.
Lawyers searched his phone and computer for evidence that he plotted with officials from Santa Cruz, which is nearly 500 miles north of Imperial Beach. But no one had heard of a Santa Cruz conspiracy and no evidence was found. Many say the move was an attempt to squash the litigation against the oil industry.
Dedina said his minority-majority community of around 27,000 can't afford the tens of millions it will take to keep away the waters bordering three sides of the city.
The city's lawsuit includes a commissioned analysis that revealed nearly 700 homes and businesses are threatened by rising sea levels, 40% of the city's roads will be underwater, and two elementary schools will have to be moved.
“People ask, how did you go against the world’s largest fossil fuel companies? Isn’t that scary?" said Dedina. "No. What’s scary is coastal flooding and the idea that whole cities would be under water. Honestly, bring it on. I can’t wait to make our case. I can’t wait to take the fight to them because we have nothing to lose.”