(Natural News) Without a doubt, fossil fuels – oil and coal, primarily – drove the industrial and technological revolutions of the past 150 years, and they continue to support the advancement of economies around the world today, while making life for billions of people more comfortable than at any time in history.

Despite that, lunatics in three California counties now think they have a right to destroy all of that progress, and over nothing more than a grand hoax.

As reported by The Daily Caller, Marin County, San Mateo County and Imperial Beach have each filed separate, though nearly identical, lawsuits against 37 of the world's largest oil and coal companies, claiming that the "global warming" they allegedly caused has led to a rise in sea level and erosion of beaches in their jurisdictions.

In their filings, county lawyers say that there has been a rise in flooding, meaning beaches are eroding more quickly – and that's the fault of evil oil and coal companies who are "destroying the world."

As such, the three counties are seeking monetary compensation (of course) for current and future damages. And, while the plaintiffs do not have any specific number in mind, they claim they'll need at least $54 billion from these companies in the coming decades.

"This is a long-anticipated move in climate litigation," Michael Burger, executive director of environmental law at Columbia University, told The San Francisco Chronicle. "You'll find pieces of it in other cases, but bringing it together like this is different than what's been done before. You can expect there will be a great deal of interest in how this litigation proceeds."

Plaintiffs are using the cigarette company argument, claiming that oil and coal companies have long known their drilling and production activities have been damaging the earth and causing "global warming," but that they have sought to discredit scientific findings on the matter.

Actually, those conducting the "scientific" studies have discredited themselves, by faking data and lying about the available evidence in order to push their climate change agenda. [RELATED: Global warming hoax revealed AGAIN: Study finds surface temp data 'adjusted' to show continual warming.]

Plus, as The National Sentinel has reported, the executive secretary of the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change has admitted very clearly that the hoax of global warming/climate change is being perpetuated specifically to destroy capitalism and change the world's economic model.

"This is the first time in the history of mankind that we are setting ourselves the task of intentionally, within a defined period of time, to change the economic development model that has been reigning for at least 150 years, since the Industrial Revolution," she said recently.

Nevertheless, officials in three California counties believe they have the right to destroy an entire industry – the very one responsible for their existence – in pursuit of payola on the basis of a fake narrative.

Granted, the suits have major legal hurdles, as The Daily Caller noted:

In order to prove their case, the counties will have to find a specific connection between harm from global warming and the actions of each energy company. Additionally, they'll have to show that the issue cannot be handled by government regulations.