NEW YORK, Jan 15 (Reuters) - A judge has dismissed New

York City's lawsuit alleging that Exxon Mobil ( XOM ), BP

and Shell were liable for misleading the public about

their products, and their commitment to renewable energy and

fighting climate change.

In a decision on Tuesday, state Supreme Court Justice Anar

Patel in Manhattan rejected the city's argument that the oil

companies should have told climate-conscious residents that

fossil fuels cause climate change because this information was

publicly known.

Patel also found no proof that the companies conducted

"greenwashing" campaigns, including statements about clean

energy and alternative energy sources, so they could sell more

fossil fuel products in the city.

A spokesman for the city's law department had no immediate

comment on Wednesday.

The lawsuit began in April 2021, after a federal appeals

court refused to hold Exxon, BP, Shell and two other oil

companies liable to pay the city's costs for addressing harm

caused by global warming.

Many U.S. state and local governments have sued oil

companies to help pay for and be more forthcoming about climate

change.