WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear an appeal from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change.

The order allows Honolulu’s lawsuit against oil and gas companies to proceed.

Governments in states including California, Colorado and New Jersey are seeking billions of dollars in damages from things like wildfires, rising sea levels and severe storms. The companies include Sunoco, Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil and BP, many of which have headquarters in Texas.

The companies argued that emissions are a national issue that should instead be fought over in federal court, where they’ve successfully had suits tossed out. — Associated Press