Trenton — Today more than 100 New Jerseyans — backed by dozens of environmental, labor, faith, and community organizations — rallied at the Statehouse Annex to call for urgent action on the New Jersey Climate Superfund Act (S3545/A4696). The bill has already cleared the environmental committees in both legislative chambers, and advocates are now demanding swift passage by the full Assembly and Senate.

Modeled after laws passed in New York and Vermont, the Climate Superfund Act would require fossil fuel giants like ExxonMobil, Shell and BP to pay for their share of the climate destruction they’ve caused in New Jersey — including damage from increasingly frequent billion-dollar storms, floods, and heat waves. Revenue from the bill would be used to fund climate-resilient infrastructure projects across the state.

“Climate Superfund is a win-win for consumers, affordability and the economy. A fraction of the largest responsible profiting polluters pay a fraction of the damage they’ve caused. It shifts the costs off the backs of taxpayers and ratepayers and the funds go directly into New Jersey’s economy creating good jobs, reducing air pollution and making towns more resilient. #JerseyStrong,” said Senator John McKeon (D-27), the bill’s prime sponsor. 

“For years, New Jersey families have been stuck footing the bill for climate disasters while Big Oil walks away with record profits,” said Matt Smith, New Jersey state director at Food & Water Watch. “This legislation flips the script. If you fuel the crisis, you fund the recovery. State leaders must act now to make polluters pay and protect our communities.”

Since 1980, New Jersey has experienced 75 climate-related disasters that each caused over $1 billion in damage. The Superfund legislation would create a dedicated state fund — supported by damages collected from the companies most responsible — to support everything from flood protections and resilient public housing to modernizing transit and the electric grid.

Images from the event for publication can be accessed here. (Credit: Food & Water Watch)

“With the deliberate undermining of environmental protection at the federal level, it’s up to states to pass legislation and regulation to make polluters pay,” said Adam Liebtag, President, Communication Workers of America Local 1036.  “The Climate Superfund Act is long overdue and will have a meaningful impact on our immediate climate resiliency needs and for future generations.”

“Numerous municipalities and local officials are faced with the uncertainty of when the next storm will come and the level of destruction it will bring to our sewer and water systems, parks and roads,” stated Nancy Facey-Blackwood, Red Bank Council Member.  “What is certain is that it will come, it will be destructive, and costly to recover. While towns like mine must do everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint – make more towns walkable and bikeable, it is not enough. That is why Red Bank was one of the first towns to pass a municipal resolution in favor of Climate Superfund. Taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for corporations that knowingly created this climate and community crisis in the first place.”   

“Central Jersey taxpayers and flood victims need a break. We’re in an affordability crisis and climate change is a significant contributing factor. This bill ensures those that have profited the most from the emissions causing the damage pay more of their fair share and give a break to consumers and ratepayers,” stated bill cosponsor Senator Andrew Zwicker (D-16).

“Big oil and gas made a big mess of this planet; it’s time for them to pay up,” stated Amy Goldsmith, NJ State Director, Clean Water Action.  “The public’s worry about increases in insurance premiums, flooding, hotter days and health harms are very real. Over 40 NJ legislators, several dozen municipalities and 100+ groups agree – Enough is enough. Climate Superfund is NJ’s most equitable and responsible path to securing economic and climate justice from big oil and gas. Its passage is an imperative as our ability to respond to climate impacts becomes more precarious.” 

“New Jersey championed the creation of the Superfund program to clean up our toxic sites more than 40 years ago; it’s time that we have a Superfund program for our climate disasters. We are not going to see more federal funding to mitigate climate impacts – it’s time for the New Jersey Legislature to hold our largest climate polluters accountable to protect our communities from extreme weather events,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey.

“Young people in New Jersey are not asking for pity, they are demanding justice. Today, we heard from Arian a 16-year-old who still remembers hiding in a basement during Hurricane Sandy, from Sophia a 17 year old whose life has been followed by natural disasters and from Sofia an 18-year-old whose family is still rebuilding after Hurricane Ida. These aren’t far-off disasters. They’re our reality and they’ve been made worse by fossil fuel companies that pollute, profit, and walk away while families pay the price. The Climate Superfund Act is a chance to lead. I’m calling on the Legislature to make polluters pay. Young people have done their part. Now it’s time for lawmakers to do theirs,” said Ben Dziobek, Executive Director of Climate Revolution Action Network.

“Every major US medical professional society has stated that climate change is a massive and unprecedented threat to all Americans. New Jersey was a leader in passing the Spill Act in 1976 to hold polluters responsible for toxic pollution sites – leading to the passage of the national Superfund program,” said Dan Quinlan, Co-Leader, Clinicians for Climate Action New Jersey. “A generation later, it’s time for New Jersey to hold climate polluters accountable.”

“We have seen firsthand the impact climate change has on our communities, from catastrophic flooding and storms to extreme heat and horrific wildfires. Fossil Fuel companies responsible for fueling extreme weather disasters should cover the cost of the damage.We cannot continue to pay Big Oil’s tab for their negligence. The NJ Climate Superfund Act is an essential tool that will hold fossil fuel companies accountable while providing a long-term funding mechanism to pay for climate damages and resilience projects in New Jersey,” said Taylor McFarland, Conservation Program Manager for the Sierra Club NJ Chapter. “It’s time for New Jersey to step up to these fossil fuel companies. It’s time to hold polluters accountable because we are done paying for their mess!”

“It’s not right that climate change is disproportionately flooding, polluting, and overheating my district, which is already overburdened,” said Senator Renee Burgess (D-28), another of the bill’s sponsors. This bill makes polluters that have profited from the damage pay to help victims recover. I support communities that are affected and I support this Bill.”

“The clock on climate isn’t just ticking – it’s blaring,” said Senator Raj Mukherji (NJ-32). “In our cities, where the impacts hit hardest, our most vulnerable residents are paying the steepest price for the climate crisis. Just as New Jersey’s landmark Spill Act held polluters accountable for cleaning up their mess, it’s time for Big Oil and Gas to pay for the billions in damage they’ve knowingly caused – to our communities, our coastlines, and our health – and to lift that burden off the backs of local taxpayers who are left footing the bill.”

“Each year, the destructive effects of human-caused climate change in New Jersey become more prominent. We’ve faced record-breaking drought and wildfires in recent months, while recent years have brought destructive hurricanes, severe flooding, and intense heat waves. Fossil fuel companies should be held liable for their role in creating an increasingly unstable environment in our state. The money from this fund will put us in a better position to confront the challenges of climate change head-on, invest in our infrastructure, and protect our communities from future environmental disasters,” said co-prime sponsor, Senator Bob Smith (D-17).

“New Jersey and my district are quite diverse but whatever your wealth or skin color burning fossil fuels makes you sick and damages your property. The Climate Superfund Act helps right this wrong by making the biggest polluters pay a share of their profits from the climate crisis. It is important to all who breathe and can save lives such as children who are dying from asthma. We can’t pass it fast enough”, said Sen. Britnee Timberlake (D-34).

More than 30 municipalities have passed resolutions in support of the bill, and over 100 organizations have signed on urging immediate action from the legislature and Governor Murphy.