Trenton, NJ — As New Jersey weathers record-breaking heat, support for legislation to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for climate damages has reached unprecedented levels — with lawmakers, local officials, and grassroots communities across the state calling for urgent action.

The Climate Superfund Act — modeled after laws passed in New York and Vermont — would require Big Oil polluters like ExxonMobil and Shell to fund critical infrastructure upgrades to protect communities from worsening floods, wildfires, heat waves, and storms.

A newly released poll of New Jersey voters, conducted by one of the nation’s most respected political pollsters, found that 68% support the Climate Superfund Act — including nearly half of Republican-identifying voters. The bill draws backing from a broad cross-section of the state — spanning geography, party, race, and class — underscoring its wide political appeal.

That growing consensus is reflected in powerful new momentum:

• 45 state lawmakers — a majority of Democrats in both chambers — have signed on as cosponsors.
• 41 municipalities and counties across the state, including Essex County, Jersey City, Edison, Princeton, and Hoboken, have passed resolutions backing the bill
• The bill has been passed out of the Senate and Assembly Environment Committees
• Earlier this month, over 100 New Jersey organizations signed a letter urging Governor Murphy and legislative leaders to pass the Climate Superfund Act before the current session ends
• And in the recent primary elections, several winning candidates made support for the Superfund proposal a key campaign issue — signaling deep public demand for climate accountability

“For three days we have had a window into our future where extreme weather will alter the life we know,” said Senator John McKeon, prime sponsor of the bill.  “Resiliency projects are mandatory and will cost billions. Either the fossil fuel industry or the taxpayer will have to foot the bill. The climate superfund act places that burden where it belongs.”

“As New Jersey faces record-breaking heat, the need for climate accountability has never been more urgent,” said Assemblyman John Allen, prime sponsor of the bill. “The Climate Superfund Act ensures that the fossil fuel companies most responsible for this crisis help fund the solutions — not New Jersey taxpayers. With growing support from voters, municipalities and legislators across the state, momentum is on our side. I’m proud to sponsor this bill and stand with the communities demanding justice and real climate action.”

“Heat waves, wildfires, and floods are hitting New Jerseyans harder every day — and communities are done footing the bill while Big Oil cashes in,” said Matt Smith, New Jersey State Director at Food & Water Watch. “Local governments, grassroots groups, and state lawmakers are increasingly uniting behind the urgent need for this legislation. As the climate crisis worsens — and as the federal government abdicates all responsibility to address it — there’s no excuse for our full state legislature not to act.”

“New Jersey taxpayers being solely responsible for climate impact repair bills, when the decisions and actions of polluters played an outsized role in the state’s climate crisis, is not only unfair, but it’s unsustainable,” said Marcus Sibley, Northeast Director of Conservation Partnerships at the National Wildlife Federation. “Results from our poll and the growing coalition of elected officials and organizations supporting the bill prove that the people of New Jersey prioritize affordability and accountability, and underscore the widespread support for the Climate Superfund Act.”

“As kids we are told, you make a mess, you clean it up. The same goes for the fossil fuel industry,”said Amy Goldsmith, New Jersey State Director at Clean Water Action. “New Jersey ranks as one of the top three states in the nation most impacted by climate change. Big Oil and Gas knew what they were doing and did it anyway. It is time for them to pay for their wrongdoing. Passing the NJ Climate Superfund Act now will provide property and tax relief for climate mitigation for our residents, municipalities and the state.”    

“Climate science is clear that a warmer world will lead to more extreme weather events. Often our towns and cities are left to pick up the pieces – and foot the bill –  for increasingly devastating impacts from flooding, hurricanes, heat waves and drought,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey. “The Climate Superfund Act echoes the original polluter pays principle that led New Jersey’s leadership on toxic sites 50 years ago. This poll clearly shows there’s broad bipartisan support from residents across the state to protect our communities from the worst impacts of climate change – and have the largest climate polluters pay their fair share.”

The Climate Superfund Act would establish a dedicated state fund, paid for by major fossil fuel companies, to help communities adapt to worsening climate impacts. Supporters are urging swift action ahead of the Legislature’s summer recess.