最高法院将于周一审理一起案件，该案件的裁决结果可能决定全美各州法院中针对石油巨头提起的气候损害诉讼的命运。
Supreme Court on Monday will hear arguments in a case that could determine the fate of state-court lawsuits nationwide seeking climate damages from oil giants.
为何此事至关重要：数十起由各州及地方政府发起的诉讼关系到石油行业数百亿美元的切身利益。
Why it matters: Billions and billions of dollars are at stake for the oil industry in dozens of cases brought by state and local governments.
- 气候变化带来的成本不断攀升，诉讼方认为这些成本直接源于石油企业的产品所致。
• Governments face mounting costs from climate change that litigants link directly to the companies' products.
宏观背景：最高法院正在审议：联邦法律是否禁止各州就跨州及全球范围内的温室气体排放所造成的损害提起诉讼。
The big picture: SCOTUS is considering whether federal law blocks damage claims under state laws for the effects of interstate and global emissions.
当前进展：此次审理具体涉及博尔德市及县于2018年对埃克森美孚和森科尔提起的诉讼。
State of play: It's specifically about litigation against Exxon and Suncor that the city and county of Boulder filed in 2018.
- 目前，加利福尼亚州、康涅狄格州、纽约州、马萨诸塞州及其他地区仍有数十起类似诉讼正在进行中。
• But dozens of state-court cases are active in California, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and beyond. • The cases aren't identical.
- 这些诉讼虽细节各异，但均指控石油巨头隐瞒相关风险或发布误导性信息，并要求其承担气候相关损失费用。
But overall they accuse oil giants of concealing risks or making deceptive statements, and seek damages for climate-related costs.
周一上午审理前需了解的几个关键要点：
Here are a few big themes and dynamics ahead of Monday morning:
这是一起极具影响力的案件。该裁决将是多年激烈博弈的最终结果（当然也可能并非如此，稍后详述）。
This is a blockbuster. The decision will be the culmination of an intense, years-long battle (unless it's not, but more on that in a moment).
- 无论是石油行业还是气候保护倡导者，都在围绕这些州级诉讼积极开展组织动员、游说及宣传工作。
• There's a high level of organizing, lobbying and advocacy among industry and climate advocates alike around these state cases.
- 石油行业及其盟友称，此类诉讼浪潮正威胁到石油企业的正常运营能力。
• Industry and allied groups say the wave of cases threatens oil companies' very ability to operate.
- 这一情况表明，双方均将诉讼视为气候议题上的关键战场。只要翻阅相关诉讼记录，便能明白我的意思。
• It's a sign that both sides see litigation as a critical battleground on climate. Take a spin through the case docket and you'll see what I mean.
最高法院也可能暂时搁置争议。最高法院未必会直接裁定联邦法律是否优先于州法。
A kicked can is possible. SCOTUS might not decide the question of federal preemption.
- 原因在于，法院目前还在审议自身是否具备审理此案的管辖权。
• That's because it's also considering whether it even has jurisdiction right now.
- 这一争议的核心在于：科罗拉多州最高法院允许博尔德市的诉讼在州法院继续进行的决定，现阶段是否可被最高法院审查。
• The question turns on whether a Colorado Supreme Court decision to let Boulder's case proceed in state court can be reviewed at this stage.
特朗普的政策则为事态增添了新的变数。美国政府和行业简报主张，用这些州级诉求来处理一个州际和全球性议题，属于联邦法律和宪法规定的联邦优先管辖范围。
Trump policies are a new(ish) wrinkle. U.S. and industry briefs argue that addressing an interstate and global topic with these state claims is preempted by federal law and the Constitution.
- 但要留意白宫试图废除《清洁空气法》中关于温室气体的关键授权，是否会被用作反驳联邦优先权主张的武器。
• But watch whether the White House attempt to repeal key Clean Air Act authority over greenhouse gases is used as a cudgel against federal preemption claims.
- 这不会成为主要论点——相反，起诉石油公司的诉讼方主张这些案件完全属于传统、长期确立的州权范围内。但这可能会浮出水面。
• This won't be the main argument — instead, the litigants against oil companies contend these cases are well within the bounds of traditional, longstanding state powers. But it could surface.
法庭上有一个重要的缺席。大法官塞缪尔·阿利托本周宣布在该案中回避。
There's an important absence on the bench. Justice Samuel Alito this week recused himself from the case.
- 环境法学者乔纳森·阿德勒写道：“阿利托大法官的回避对请愿方来说可能是个坏消息，因为他是法院中较为支持优先权原则的大法官之一。”
• "Justice Alito's recusal is likely bad news to the petitioners as he is among the more preemption-friendly justices on the Court," writes environmental law scholar Jonathan Adler.
可能产生连锁反应。如果裁决有利于石油公司，也可能危及各州单独的气候政策。
There could be ripple effects. A ruling in favor of the oil companies could also jeopardize separate state climate policies.
- 纽约州和佛蒙特州拥有“气候超级基金”法律，要求化石燃料公司承担损害赔偿以帮助资助气候适应。这两项法律目前都陷入诉讼。
• New York and Vermont have "climate superfund" laws that assess damages against fossil fuel companies to help fund climate adaptation. They're both tied up in court.
- 有多个州正在考虑某种版本的此类法律。
• Several states are considering some version of these laws.