Annapolis, MD — Today, over 50 local, state, and national nonprofits are calling on the Maryland General Assembly to override Governor Wes Moore’s May veto of RENEW, the state’s climate superfund study bill that was passed in March. New York and Vermont have already passed climate superfund bills, and multiple other states are considering similar proposals.  

In a letter to legislators, groups are asking legislators to override Moore’s veto and to finalize the study on schedule; a key piece in passing a full mandate requiring that fossil fuel companies pay billions for their pollution and the damage they’ve done. 

“Just in the last week, Maryland saw intense rainfall and extreme heat events that have increasingly endangered the health and wellness of people across the state,” said Jorge Aguilar, Southern Regional Director for Food & Water Watch, an organizer of the letter. “The state legislature must override the RENEW Act veto to begin holding those who have caused this disaster accountable.”

“Climate change is pummeling Maryland households and increasing costs. We must count up those costs in order to eventually split the bill with polluters,” said Brittany Baker, Maryland Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. 

“The effects of climate change are not uniform, and disproportionately burden the most vulnerable and susceptible populations,” shared Iman Habib, Climate Policy Analyst with Progressive Maryland. “This study bill is critical for systematic investment into Maryland environmental justice communities, many of whom are low-income communities of color.”

“Communities of faith across the state have long spoken up in protection of our common home and our neighbors,” said Andrea Orozco, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa)’s Faithful Advocacy Lead. “Now more than ever, we call on our state leaders to do the same and override the RENEW Act veto.”

The popular RENEW Act mandated an expert study slated for December 1, 2026, that was expected to show billions of dollars of harm to the state from extreme weather driven by fossil fuel combustion. The study was expected to drive debate toward legislation in 2027 requiring large carbon polluters to pay into a state fund to cover part of the cost of climate adaptation. With Moore’s veto, the state does not currently have a cost calculation or methodology for calculating the current or future costs of climate change impacts in the state.