WASHINGTON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court

declined on Monday to hear a bid by Sunoco ( SUN ) and other oil

companies to scuttle a lawsuit by Honolulu accusing them of

misleading the public for decades about the dangers of climate

change induced by the burning of fossils fuels.

The justices turned away an appeal by the oil companies of a

decision by Hawaii's top court allowing the suit, which alleged

violations of state law, to proceed. Other defendants in the

lawsuit include Exxon Mobil ( XOM ), BP, ConocoPhillips ( COP )

, BHP Group ( BHP ), Marathon Petroleum ( MPC ) and

Chevron ( CVX ).