WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court dealt a major setback to the oil industry Monday, refusing to block lawsuits from California and other blue states that seek billions of dollars in damages for the effects of climate change. Without a comment or dissent, the justices turned down closely watched appeals from Sunoco, Shell and other energy producers.

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to consider an appeal by oil companies, including Sunoco and Exxon Mobil, to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Honolulu. The lawsuit accuses them of misleading the public about climate change.

The high court declined to hear a challenge to a major case in which Honolulu is suing energy companies over climate change.

The Supreme Court said Monday it won’t hear an appeal from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions