California Must Be Next State to Pass Climate Superfund
Devastating Wildfires Reveal Urgent Need for Polluters to Pay for Climate Change Induced Disasters
Published Jan 13, 2025
Devastating Wildfires Reveal Urgent Need for Polluters to Pay for Climate Change Induced Disasters
As Los Angeles looks towards a second week of devastating wildfires, the need for climate polluters to pay for climate change induced disasters is becoming more clear than ever.
Food & Water Watch California Director Nicole Ghio released the following statement,
“Big Oil knew fossil fuels were contributing to climate change decades ago, but engaged in a massive disinformation campaign to keep profiting from its pollution. Now, Los Angeles is paying in homes, communities and lives lost. Polluters, not taxpayers, should pay for the cost of these climate disasters and the rebuilding that will follow. Governor Newsom and California’s elected officials must introduce and pass a robust Superfund Act that will make polluters pay for their pollution. For too long, Big Oil companies have profited off their pollution, while expecting us to pick up the bill. Now it’s time to make sure the industry pays for its climate and health impacts.”
At the end of last year, New York Governor Hochul signed the state’s own Climate Change Superfund Act into law – becoming the second state to require Big Oil companies to pay for climate impacts. Climate change driven extreme weather events cost the United States at least $150 billion each year. Early estimates are showing that the total damage and economic loss of the current Los Angeles wildfires to be between $250 billion and $275 billion.
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Press Contact: Madeline Bove [email protected]
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