A judge in Charleston, S.C., dismissed on Wednesday the city’s lawsuit against oil and gas companies over their role in climate change, ruling that the case raised questions that were far beyond the bounds of state laws.

During two days of hearings in May, lawyers for the city argued that the companies, ranging from giants like Exxon Mobil and Chevron to local firms, had covered up what they knew about the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions. They accused the companies of mounting a disinformation campaign to cast doubt on climate science and failing to warn the public about the dangers ahead.

Those actions increased demand for fossil fuels, which led to emissions and the grave risks linked to climate change that the historic coastal city now faces, including flooding and sea-level rise, they argued. The case cited state tort laws and the state’s Unfair Trade Practices Act and sought funds for adaptation and mitigation projects.

In his 45-page decision, Judge Roger M. Young wrote that while the lawyers argued the claims were about deception, “they are premised on, and seek redress for, the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.” He said that those issues fall squarely under federal and not state law, and that the court lacked jurisdiction over out-of-state companies.

He cited a 2021 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in a similar lawsuit filed by New York City against oil companies. In that case, Judge Richard J. Sullivan of the Circuit Court addressed whether the municipalities could use state tort laws to hold multinational companies liable for damages caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

“Given the nature of the harm and the existence of a complex web of federal and international environmental law regulating such emissions, we hold that the answer is ‘no,’” Judge Sullivan wrote.