Perched on an Alaskan barrier island, the village of Kivalina faces imminent destruction because of melting sea ice. Now, the community's legal effort -- which pins the blame on energy companies for the change in climate -- is in danger as well. So, too, is a pair of high-profile climate-change suits that may be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court, one involving an effort by Connecticut and other states to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, the other stemming from Hurricane Katrina. All three suits rely upon the theory that climate change is a public nuisance...If the justices grant review, the stage could be set for reversal of a rare, recent high court victory for environmentalists, the 2007 decision in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency. [refers to ExxonMobil, American Electric Power]