Recently an Alachua County court case ended with R.J. Reynolds found liable for damages amounting to $13.5 million. Because her husband died after smoking “for decades,” the widow and her family had sued. The Sun report stated, “It’s alleged that R.J. Reynolds knew the dangers of smoking but hid them from the public.”

ExxonMobil has acknowledged that it has known the dangers of fossil fuels for decades. Other companies also have known that oil, natural gas and coal cause global warming. So when will the lawsuits begin? When will the fossil fuel industry become accountable for increasing levels of CO2 in our atmosphere and increasing temperatures changing our lives?

Such lawsuits are already being pursued. The fact that the fossil-fuel industry has deceived the public about the harms of increased CO2 in our atmosphere has become a major argument in many cases. One step in each case is determining liability.

Just as the cigarette industry managed to avoid liability for many years and many cases, so, too, the fuel industry may argue the cause of asthma or cardiovascular disease or heat stroke may not be directly tied to increased CO2 in the atmosphere. But that will change. How long before a plaintiff will receive $13.5 million in compensation?

Not only the fossil fuel industry is being held accountable. Lawsuits have been filed against the U.S. government, various states, governors and other countries including the Philippines, Ireland, the Netherlands and Pakistan, and even France, where the UN countries signed the agreement to reduce carbon levels in our world.

In the Philippines where typhoons have changed the lives of millions of Filipinos, one case argues that the fossil fuel and concrete industries are responsible for their suffering the effects of storms. Rights to clean water, food, sanitation and other basic resources have been violated.

Although the Human Rights Commission hearing this case can not fine the industries, it may be able to regulate their actions within the Philippines. Just as the U.S. once had stricter regulations on industry’s impact on air and water pollution, the Philippines could restrict CO2 emissions from offending companies.

Some active court cases focus on human rights being overlooked by lack of action on climate change. Constitutional rights of life, liberty and property have been ignored.

Climate Liability News examines how young people, especially, are using this argument. Such youth believe that a safe climate is a constitutional right; thus the government must protect our natural resources for future generations.

Other countries including Canada have also named governments as responsible for the environment. France faces a lawsuit because it has not made enough progress on attaining its emission reduction targets.

Here in the United States, many such cases are being heard at the state level. Because climate change is a global problem and nations around the world have pledged to lower CO2 emissions to lessen the impact of climate change, the outcome of each case will affect other cases in other countries.

Perhaps the fossil-fuel industry would prefer federal cases. Thus, arguments about jurisdiction start early, defining the issues leading to suits.

If we think about the impact of climate change on our lives, we can begin to understand why many court cases may be pursued. First, health issues have increased because of rising temperatures. Drought as well as flooding alter our water quality and related diseases. Increased temperatures change the range of vector-borne diseases as well as escalating algae occurrences which, in turn, affect our food supply.

Agriculture, too, suffers the consequences of a lack of climate action. Crops are destroyed by floods, drought and insects. Nutrition drops as temperatures increase. Increasing temperatures change the productivity of crops.

Recently, when I was talking with a group of college students, some admitted that sometimes they ignore climate change discussions because they have burned out from reading and seeing too much.

When we recognize how climate change has affected our life, when we realize this issue is personal, then our interest may once again be sparked. We may realize that for many the lawsuits keep our topic in the headlines, a means to have others listen to concerns, a method to demand action, a hope for accountability resulting in a cleaner future.

Susan Nugent is a Climate Reality Project leader from Gainesville.