...In an interesting move that seems designed to hedge its own culpability, Chevron filed a complaint for indemnity and contribution against Statoil in December in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

...Statoil did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chevron argues that since Statoil also produces and sells large amounts of petroleum, it should be held to the same standard of liability in these lawsuits.

...[An] environmental law professo... said Chevron appears to be appealing to the global nature of climate change in trying to implicate other fossil producers. “I don’t view the move as demonstrating a fear of actual liability so much as a strategic move to paint a more complicated picture about global contributors to climate change,” she said.

...Attribution science... shows that Chevron bears more responsibility for historical emissions than Statoil.

...The move is just another fancy way of muddying the water by repeating the tired industry mantra that ‘everyone is responsible for climate change, so no one can be held accountable, especially not us,’” [ said Kristin Casper]. “Chevron is trying to intimidate the court and delay the legal actions from going forward with this cynical tactic. ...