New York City announced Wednesday a lawsuit against five global oil giants for contributing to climate change and said it planned to sell its investments in fossil fuel companies.

"We're bringing the fight against climate change straight to the fossil fuel companies that knew about its effects and intentionally misled the public to protect their profits," Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Democrat, said. "As climate change continues to worsen, it's up to the fossil fuel companies whose greed put us in this position to shoulder the cost of making New York safer and more resilient."

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2017: Devastating effects of climate change Sweltering heat Unprecedented heat waves swept across the globe in 2017, leading to droughts, wildfires and even deaths. Australia started the year with temperatures near 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), the "Lucifer" heat wave brought the mercury above 40 degrees Celsius throughout Southern Europe in July and August and scorching heat hit India's most vulnerable people. Get ready for next summer...

2017: Devastating effects of climate change Disappearing wonder Earlier this year, scientists realized that coral bleaching in Australia's Great Barrier Reef was worse than first thought. In some parts of the UNESCO World Heritage site, up to 70 percent of the coral has already been killed. By 2050, scientists have warned 90 percent of the reef could disappear. Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification are the main culprits.

2017: Devastating effects of climate change Deadly combination Armed conflicts are pushing millions of people to leave their homes or live in terribly precarious situations — and climate change is making it worse. A lack of natural resources increases the risk of conflict and makes life even harder for refugees. South Sudanese families, for instance, are escaping to neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya — countries already suffering from drought.

2017: Devastating effects of climate change World on fire From New Zealand to Spain, from California to even Greenland: the world has seen a nonstop year of wildfires. Global warming has been blamed for the increased fire risk, and in some countries that risk has turned into reality. Wildfires engulfed large areas of Europe's Iberian Peninsula, causing death and destruction, while firefighters in California have had no rest for more than six months.

2017: Devastating effects of climate change Record-shattering storms Hurricanes Maria and Irma, which hit the Caribbean region in August and September, were two of the year's most damaging weather events. The list of deadly storms also included Ophelia in Ireland, Harvey and Nate in Central America and the US, and Xavier and Sebastian in Germany. Warming of the ocean surface has led to more evaporation, and that water may help fuel thunderstorms and hurricanes.

2017: Devastating effects of climate change Melting Antarctica In July, one of the largest icebergs ever recorded separated from the Larsen C ice shelf — one of Antarctica's biggest — reducing its area by more than 12 percent. While calving icebergs in the Antarctic are part of a natural cycle, scientists have linked the retreat of several Antarctic ice shelves to global warming and are closely monitoring potential long-term effects.

2017: Devastating effects of climate change Struggle to breathe Deteriorating air quality causes thousands of deaths around the world every year. India's capital, New Delhi, is one of the world's most polluted cities. In November, large parts of northern India and Pakistan were engulfed by a blanket of thick smog carrying harmful particulate matter. Schools were forced to close, and hospitals were full of people with respiratory problems.

2017: Devastating effects of climate change Oceans at risk The high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere represent a major threat for our oceans, already in danger due to plastic pollution, overfishing and warming waters. Ocean acidification could make these waters — covering more than two-thirds of our planet's surface — a hostile environment for sea creatures. And without marine animals, entire ocean ecosystems are at risk.

2017: Devastating effects of climate change Fierce floods and mudslides Superstorms often trigger flash floods and mudslides. In late December, more than 230 people were killed when a storm hit the Philippines' second-largest island of Mindanao, a tragedy exacerbated by years of deforestation. In 2017, severe floods also hit countries such as Vietnam, Peru and Sierra Leone. European countries, including Greece and Germany, also felt the damaging effects of heavy rain. Author: Irene Banos Ruiz



Seeking damages

The city is suing BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell for allegedly knowing for decades that burning fossil fuels helped cause climate change.

De Blasio said New York would use the damages to offset the costs of protecting the city from the future effects of global warming. The move follows similar lawsuits by San Francisco and Oakland.

Exxon, Chevron and Shell said the lawsuit would not help tackle climate change.

"Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a global issue and requires global participation and actions," Exxon Mobil's Scott Silvestri said. "Lawsuits of this kind — filed by trial attorneys against an industry that provides products we all rely upon to power the economy and enable our domestic life — simply do not do that."

Read more: McKibben: 'We won the climate argument, now we have to win the fight'

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Growth vs. environment The so-called "Gold Finger" Ende Gelände group marches across a field against a backdrop of the Neurath and Frimmersdorf lignite power plants pumping smoke into the atmosphere.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Donned in white A protester wearing a mock hazmat suit and carrying a bag of hay prepares to set off from the Bedburg base. The march to the coal carrying rail line takes about three hours.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Club wielding police Protesters break through the first police blockade. "Many police behave well, others not so much," said Milan Schwarze, an Ende Gelände organizer. DW witnessed police hitting several protesters with batons at this first road blockade.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Slogans On their way to the rail lines, protesters were chanting slogans such as "We are unstoppable, another world is possible" and "Keep it, keep it in the ground, keep it, keep it in the ground."

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Decoalinization Protesters came from Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, Belgium, the United Kingdom and other European countries. Many had joined Ende Gelände protests in previous years.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Contrasts Protesters from the "Blue finger" Ende Gelände group march towards the Niederaussem coal-fired power plant, seen spewing out smoke in the distance.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Scuffles Protesters run past a line of police attempting to block them from crossing a potato field leading to the rail tracks.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Outnumbered Protesters scuttle across a potato field to escape police. Minutes later, they are met by a much larger police presence near the rail line.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Injured A protester lies on the ground after being hit by a baton wielding police in the leg. Another man calls for the medic team that accompanied Ende Gelände.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Corralled Police corral about 150 protesters who did not make onto the rail tracks. Activists then sat in the baking sun for several hours surrounded by police until they were herded onto buses and taken to a police holding center.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Carried away one-by-one Police carry a protester to a police bus. As an act of civil disobedience, many protesters refusing to go voluntarily to police buses were forcefully dragged away by police.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Rail line Three groups of protesters, each of about 70 people, block the rail line carrying lignite. The action lasted six hours until police were able to remove and transport the protesters.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Parliamentary observers Julia Verlinden, a member of the Bundestag for Green Party, observes protesters and police. The Left Party also sent parliamentary observers.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Trains haul protesters away Protesters on the tracks were taken away by a RWE railcar. Police said the protesters needed to be transported by railcar because it would be too dangerous to drag them down the steep embankment that they had climbed to reach the tracks.

Protesters take on Germany's coal industry Civil disobedience Police carry away a protester who refused to leave voluntarily. Many of the protesters on the tracks had to be carried away. This protester tactic slows down police and keeps the rail line closed longer. Author: Chase Winter



Finance and sustainability

De Blasio also said New York City's pension funds would sell around $5 billion (€4 billion) of their investments in fossil fuel companies.

"Safeguarding the retirement of our city's police officers, teachers and firefighters is our top priority, and we believe that their financial future is linked to the sustainability of the planet," Scott Stringer, the city's comptroller, said.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), a major US trade group, denounced the city's decision.

"Ironically, this attack on energy manufacturers comes at a time that New Yorkers have depended on natural gas and heating oil to carry them through the recent extreme cold," NAM Senior Vice President Linda Kelly said. "The mayor's announcement may raise his profile, but it will do nothing to address climate change and will ultimately fail."

The move follows similar divestment decisions by other municipalities in the US and elsewhere. Democratic Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, said in December the state would also sell its investments in fossil fuel companies.

Read more: Global voices call for fossil fuels divestment

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amp/msh (dpa, AP)