Three-Quarters of US Voters Oppose Legal Immunity for Big Oil

The survey results reveal an unusual degree of political alignment, with 83% of Democrats, 76% of independents, and 67% of Republicans opposing efforts to grant the industry legal cover. This represents a significant shift from May, when 65% of voters expressed similar opposition. The findings arrive as states and municipalities—from California to Rhode Island—pursue litigation against energy giants for allegedly misleading the public about their products’ roles in climate-driven disasters like wildfires and flooding.

Industry advocates, including the American Petroleum Institute, have prioritized the passage of liability shields, while Republican allies in Congress have introduced measures to overturn state-level "superfund" laws. These efforts are mirrored at the state level, where conservative groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council have promoted model legislation to protect firms from liability. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is currently reviewing the Suncor v. Boulder case, a high-stakes challenge that could potentially derail dozens of pending climate lawsuits nationwide if the court rules in favor of the oil companies.