Los Angeles—more than 24 people have died as a result of those fires, with damages totaling more than $150 billion. There’s also the potential that the fires are partially fueled by human-driven climate change. Joining us to discuss this is climate attorney Jeffrey B. Simon, right here on The Live Zone.
Fox5- Guy Lambert
Let’s jump into this. One of the things you’ve posited is that these wildfires are not merely natural disasters, but a direct consequence of man-made climate change. Can you elaborate?
Jeffrey B. Simon:
Absolutely. The hottest 40 years in human history are the last 40 years. There were more heat-related deaths last year than ever before. None of that is a coincidence. It’s because burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which traps heat and presses it down on all of us.
Now, while it’s not necessarily the case that these fires were started directly by climate change, there’s no question that they’ve been made worse by the heating and drying caused by the greenhouse gas effect.
Fox5- Guy Lambert
You’ve filed a landmark $50 billion lawsuit against major fossil fuel companies. What has been the response from these companies?
Jeffrey B. Simon:
Their responses vary. Some companies outright deny that burning fossil fuels has made the world hotter, drier, and the climate more destructive. Others admit the impact but essentially blame consumers. And some avoid taking any clear position, despite previously denying what we now know they understood decades ago. We contend that many of them misled the public, ignoring the truth about the damage their products would cause.
Fox5- Guy Lambert:
You make an interesting point. Wildfires have always occurred in dry regions, but conditions now seem more extreme. What’s different about today’s environment?
Jeffrey B. Simon:
That’s right, Guy. While wildfires are a natural phenomenon, the conditions today are far worse. The soil in places like Southern California is drier than ever. Droughts are longer and more intense, and the Earth’s surface temperature is approximately 2.5°F higher than it was before the unmitigated burning of fossil fuels.
These conditions create a tinderbox, making wildfires far more likely and devastating.
Fox5- Guy Lambert
Given the fires are still burning out of control, with 24 lives already lost—and, tragically, that number may grow—what can we do to prevent this from happening again?
Jeffrey B. Simon:
There are two things we must focus on.
First, we need to address the immediate needs of those affected—helping survivors, supporting the families of those who’ve lost loved ones, and ensuring firefighters have the resources they need.
Second, we need to take a broader, more long-term approach. We must stop burning fossil fuels at the current rate and face the truth: our actions have caused significant climate harm. Additionally, we contend that major polluting fossil fuel companies misled the public for decades by failing to disclose what they knew about these consequences.
We are committed to holding these companies accountable in court for their role in this crisis.
Fox5- Guy Lambert
Well, one thing is for sure—we need to do everything possible to ensure this never happens again. Jeffrey B. Simon, thank you so much for joining us today.