Companies in carbon-intensive industries such as oil and gas, electric utilities, and automobile manufacturing are already starting to face litigation concerning corporate contributions to global climate change. For example, eight state attorneys general, the City of New York and three land trusts brought suit in 2005 against the five largest electric utilities in the U.S., on the grounds that they were substantial contributors to the "public nuisance" of global warming. These and other similar cases pose a significant risk to businesses. Should the courts find against companies in such cases, the potential liability is immense. Even if some of the suits are unsuccessful, the costs of litigation and the reputation damage incurred by companies involved could be damaging in their own right.