The Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Climate Change. Is it Ready to Decide Which Courts Have Jurisdiction? Cities, counties and states suing the fossil fuel industry want state courts to award damages. But industry says it’s a federal, if not a global, concern. January 20, 2021 U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh attends the funeral of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush at the U.S Capitol Rotunda on Dec. 3, 2018 in Washington, D.C. Credit: Jabin Botsford - Pool/Getty Images Related Share this article Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh wasted no time cutting to the chase during a hearing Tuesday in a climate change case in which the City of Baltimore is seeking potentially billions in damages from the fossil fuel industry related to climate-induced extreme weather and sea level rise.