Leehi Yona

Assistant Professor of Law, Cornell Law School

Cornell University climate and environment legal scholar, Leehi Yona, says the lawsuit is part of “sustained efforts” from governments to hold companies accountable for climate impacts and misrepresentation to the public. 

Yona says:

“In my view, this latest lawsuit builds on the sustained efforts of many governments to hold fossil fuel companies accountable to the myriad ways they have misled the public on the risks of their products. 

“While greenwashing certainly isn’t new, the fossil fuel industry in particular has frequently downplayed the impacts that their sector has on climate change. The State of California is alleging here that Exxon undercounted the carbon footprint of its recycled plastics – and I agree with Attorney General Bonta’s findings. 

“My research focuses on how undercounting greenhouse gas emissions impacts climate laws and policies, and this lawsuit is another example of how these practices – here in the case of recycling claims – undermines climate progress.”