Oil firms accused of scare tactics after claiming climate lawsuits ‘a threat to US’

Attorneys for BP, Exxon and Shell claim city of Baltimore's case over deception and failure to warn' could kill offshore drilling

US oil firms have been accused of using scare tactics after telling a federal court on Tuesday that lawsuits alleging fossil fuel companies lied about the climate crisis could threaten America's oil supply.

At a closely watched appeals court hearing to decide whether a lawsuit by the city of Baltimore should be heard in state or federal court, an attorney for BP, Exxon, Shell and other energy firms painted the case as a threat to America's energy independence.