NY Judges Doubt Oil Companies’ Emissions Claims Were Misleading

Statements from ExxonMobil, BP, and Shell claiming their respective products help lower carbon emissions might simply amount to “puffery,” rather than being considered misleading statements, a New York judge signaled Wednesday.

New York City claims the statements were misleading to consumers, making them believe the companies’ products were less harmful than they were. The products might not “meaningfully reduce emissions but they do reduce emissions,” Associate Justice David Friedman said during a state appellate court hearing.

“Why aren’t these statements really puffery?” Friedman asked the city. Statements of puffery are exaggerated promotional claims that can’t be verified and don’t rise ...