A New York State Supreme Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by New York City against major oil companies ExxonMobil, BP, and Shell, alleging they misled the public about their products' impact on climate change and their commitment to renewable energy.

Justice Anar Patel ruled that the city could not simultaneously claim its residents were both aware of the link between fossil fuels and climate change and yet deceived by the oil companies' marketing. "The city cannot have it both ways," Patel wrote in her decision. She found no evidence that the companies, along with the American Petroleum Institute, engaged in “greenwashing” campaigns designed to boost fossil fuel sales within the city. The judge also dismissed arguments that general marketing statements, such as Exxon's claim that its fuel helps people drive "cleaner, smarter and longer," constituted misleading information about the products' contribution to climate change.

New York City, with its 8.3 million residents, had argued that the companies’ advertising and social media presence falsely portrayed them as leaders in combating climate change, despite minimal investments in renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. The city sought civil fines and an injunction to halt the alleged deceptive practices.

Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesperson for the city's law department, stated that the city is reviewing its legal options. "Our complaint alleged that these defendants spent millions to mislead consumers to think that they, and their products, contribute to a clean energy future," Paolucci said. "They do not. Companies that violate the city's consumer protection laws should be held fully accountable. New Yorkers deserve no less."

ExxonMobil responded to the ruling with a statement expressing hope that “political figures around the country come to understand that ideological hatred for us doesn't mean we did anything wrong.”

This lawsuit is one of many brought by U.S. state and local governments against oil companies concerning their role in climate change, specifically regarding the emission of greenhouse gases. The dismissal comes just a day after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to block a similar lawsuit filed by the city of Honolulu against the same oil companies.

This is not the first legal setback for New York City in its pursuit of climate-related litigation against these companies. In April 2021, a federal appeals court rejected a separate lawsuit seeking to hold ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips liable for the city's costs associated with global warming.

The case is titled City of New York v. Exxon Mobil Corp et al, and was heard in the New York State Supreme Court, New York County. The dismissal marks a significant win for the oil industry in the ongoing legal battles over climate change responsibility.