Exxon, Shell and other carbon producers sued for sea level rises in California

As a trio of lawsuits claim compensation for sea rises resulting from fossil fuel emissions, campaigners say carbon majors must change their business models

Three Californian communities have launched legal action against some of the world's biggest oil, gas and coal companies, seeking compensation for the current and future costs of adapting to sea level rises linked to climate change.

San Mateo and Marin Counties, coastal communities in northern California, and Imperial Beach, a city in San Diego County, have filed complaints against 37 "carbon majors", including Shell, Chevron, Statoil, Exxon and Total.