California considers letting wildfire victims sue oil companies for damages

California is considering a bill that would allow insurers and victims of climate-driven natural disasters to sue the oil industry for damages. State Sen. Scott Wiener, who authors the bill, said the oil industry should be liable in a natural disaster because companies intentionally deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels on climate change. Those changes have intensified storms and wildfires and caused billions of dollars in damage. Such disasters have also driven the state insurance market to a crisis. The bill is supported by several environmental and consumer protection groups, but the oil industry already signaled it will fight the legislation.